Search results

Pages

Vassar College. Poughkeepsie. N.Y. iMay 9. 1897, My dearest Father, — I am going to write my letter before church this morning, so that I may go for a walk this afternoon. This has been a perfect spring: we have not had any very hot weather yet; it has been bright and clear and comfortably cool most of the time so far—-the kind of weather that makes us want to live out of doors. Ray finally got her bicycle fixed up, so that I have beenout on it twice already. I thought I might have forgotten... Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsie. N.Y. iMay 9. 1897, My dearest Father, — I am going to write my letter before church this morning, so that I may go for a walk this afternoon. This has been a perfect spring: we have not had any very hot weather yet; it has been bright and clear and comfortably cool most of the time so far—-the kind of weather that makes us want to live out of doors. Ray finally got her bicycle fixed up, so that I have beenout on it twice already. I thought I might have forgotten somewhat since last fall how to ride, but I had no trouble at all. The spring rains make the roads here very bad for a long while. It is not like the streets of a city, where you can ride the year around. Yesterday we had the second set of match games in Basket- Bali. Our team has beaten each time this spring. They did not begin to practice till after all the other teams did this spring, so we were afraid they would not be very successful. But I think they have tried all the harder on that account, and I thinkthey will win the championship. Next Saturday is Field Day, so in addition to the final match Basket- ball games, there will be track events - running, jumping etc. The girls who are entered have been training fro some time, and they have to diet, too. That is, they are forbidden to eat any sweets, or to eat between meals - etc. Next Saturday evening, the Junior Class have invited our class to take a ride up the river for two or three hours, in a boat chartered for the purpose. We are so delighted, for everybody says there is notihfcig more beautiful than a ride on the Hudson. Every year the Juniors entertain the Seniors in some way;- lastyear we gave them a lawn fete in the evening - But this will be much nicer. Tou know I have always intended to go from here to Albany by water some time on the way home, but I have never arranged it. Next Friday night there is to be an open debate between our Senior debating society - "T. and M." and the Junior, "Qui Vive"- to which we challenged them. Ray is to be one of the debaters on our side. From now on there will be something going on all the time, our examinations begin a week from Thursday- The Seniors take them earlier than the rest of the people, in order to leave time for the Senior vacationbefore Commencement. The night that we finish our exams, we have what is called the "Senior Howl"- when we literally howl—either for joy or for sorrow that we are through. It will cost about twenty dollars, I think, to pay for all these extra Senior expenses, such as our pictures, invitations, class supper. Class Day expenses, and diploma. We have to pay five dollars for the diploma. I had expected to pay for all these things with the money coming to the Vassar ion Board, but I find that that money will not be ready for me till summer - about July. I am earning a little bit thisweek by tutoring in History — a married woman who came here after this semester's work began, and next who wishes to be graduated with -last year's class- She was formerly in the Class of '78. Somebody in the family inquired about my Com. essay: it is not getting along very well: I have not settled very definitely yet what I shall put into it. They will all be stupid. W e have been putting in our odd times this week by making blue prints from films that we borrow from various girls- We pay for the paper by making more than enough for ourselves and selling some. We shall have some very good pictures of the grounds and various buildings and people. I have always to make a collection of them, and now that there is so little time left, we are waked up to it. Mamma inquired about bringing Ray's Class Day dress- She will not need to do so, for Ray's dressmaker sent to her the Class Day dress and Commencement dress, by express- If mamma has any extra room in her trunk I can fill it up for her on the way home. Just to think of talking about the way home. Lots of love to you and to all of the family, from your loving daughter Adelaide. (Claflin, May 9, 1897. Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

October 14, 1893

Text

LAKE MOHONK MOUNTAIN HOUSE, Mohonk Lake, Ulster Co., New York. A.K. Smiley, Proprietor. Saturday Oct. 14, 1893. My dear mamma, -- I began a letter to you yesterday, but have not yet had time to finish it. You see by the heading that we are not at College, but at Lake Mohonk, twenty, miles from Vassar. We are here on an excursion, that is, the Seniors and Freshmen are. Mr. Thompson, of New York City pays for the College girls to come here every year. It is a perfectly lovely place, up in the... Show moreLAKE MOHONK MOUNTAIN HOUSE, Mohonk Lake, Ulster Co., New York. A.K. Smiley, Proprietor. Saturday Oct. 14, 1893. My dear mamma, -- I began a letter to you yesterday, but have not yet had time to finish it. You see by the heading that we are not at College, but at Lake Mohonk, twenty, miles from Vassar. We are here on an excursion, that is, the Seniors and Freshmen are. Mr. Thompson, of New York City pays for the College girls to come here every year. It is a perfectly lovely place, up in the Shangankunk (or some- thing like that) Mts. We all rode in carryalls, holding about fifteen apiece. We started from College about half past six this morning, and got here at quarter to twelve. The drive was beautiful. W e wound up the mts. by a very curved road, and when we got almost here, we could look back and see all the country around: hills rising up with their sides covered thick with trees of all colors. I never saw so many colors on trees in all my life, and they were all mixed in together like the colors of that little square patchwork in the front part of our church. It has rained most of the day, but we enjoy it all the same. I will write more particulars about this later. Your loving Adelaide. Adelaide Claflin, '97,Freshman year 1893-4 Roomed in 4C [?] Strong Hall with Rachel C. Schauffler Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

January 2, 1895

Text

Vassar College. J an. 2. 1895. My dear Mother, — That Is the first time I have written 1895. How queer It seems/ I am just going to write you a few lines this morning, to go on the nine oclock mail, if possible. I got a letter from Mary MacColl yesterday, telling me that she cannot come back to college for the rest of this year. She was not well all summer aad really was not strong enough to come in September, but she prevailed upon them to let her. She is very nervous, and has something the... Show moreVassar College. J an. 2. 1895. My dear Mother, — That Is the first time I have written 1895. How queer It seems/ I am just going to write you a few lines this morning, to go on the nine oclock mail, if possible. I got a letter from Mary MacColl yesterday, telling me that she cannot come back to college for the rest of this year. She was not well all summer aad really was not strong enough to come in September, but she prevailed upon them to let her. She is very nervous, and has something the matter with her back* they were afraid of curvature of the spine. We are very, very sorry that she cannot come back, for she is a splendidgirl, and we will miss her very much. Poor girl, it such a disappointment to her, for she worked so hard to get to college. She has been to school only at district school, and all that we took in High School, she studied by herself, without a teacher except when her brother helped her. She has the Scotch persistency in with her Scotch blood. Mary may possibly come back next September, but I doubt it. She asked me to pack the rest of her clothes and things and send to her, and that I am going to do today. Time is flying so, I do wish we had two or three weeks more. There is so much that I should like to do. I have spent most of the vacation in being lazy- I sent those flannels home because I did not need them. They are the ones I left here last year. The smaller one I have notworn at all, because I have plenty of others of the same thickness, and I have a new one like the larger one, which I think will not need to be washed for I wear it over another one, and so I don't need any more to take its place. You know I brought a stack of flannels, as Edie said, enough to furnish an army. H you send Horace's Satires I will be very glad. Does Lou want Cicero's De Senectute before the end of January? I will be using one till then, but if she wants it before, I will send it to her, and use Mary's for the rest of the time. The trigonometry that I sent they do not use here, so I could not sell it. I sent Lou my old fountain pen Monday. I hope she will get it all right. If she cannot make it write at first tell her to screw off the piece that the pen is in, and pour water throughit. It worked very well for me. I have made a pair of bedroom slippers which I intend to give you for your birthday, but I have concluded to send them now so that you will have the benefit of them during this winter. You so often walk around the house early in the morning, or at night, that I thought you might make a good deal of use of a pair. And you can wear them to bed on very cold nights, to keep your feet warm. When you wear these out, I will make you another pair. I will send these today. We watched the Old Year out on Clarence's birthday.- four girls and myself. Then as it was too late to go over to Strong they all came up and slept here. There is going to be a candy pull tonight, for all the girls here - and I suppose it will be lots of fun. With love to all, Adelaide. £laflin, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

October 12, 1894

Text

<p>Vassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, Oct. 12. 1894. My dear Bessie,- You have been so good about writing to me several times aleeady, that I will answer your letters next. I want first to thank you for the postal stamps you sent me for my birth- day. They were about the most useful thing you could hav? +hought of, and they came at just the right time, for I intended to buy some that very day. I am taking this time to write because I am too lazy</p> to do anything else just now. I... Show more<p>Vassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, Oct. 12. 1894. My dear Bessie,- You have been so good about writing to me several times aleeady, that I will answer your letters next. I want first to thank you for the postal stamps you sent me for my birth- day. They were about the most useful thing you could hav? +hought of, and they came at just the right time, for I intended to buy some that very day. I am taking this time to write because I am too lazy</p> to do anything else just now. I have two recitations the first thing Friday morning, and nothing more till late in the afternoon. So the middle of the day seems like Saturday, and when I have had the hardest part of my week just before this, I like to do something else at this time than study. Our work is going to take ever so much time this year, for we have so much library work in history. For that we have to scheme and wait to get hold of the book we need, for often there is only one copy and 130 people want to use it. Then we have to read pages and pages, and take notes of the principal ideas we pick out.We bought several history books which we can use all we want to, and that is a great help. Studying history this year is interesting out of class, but not in class, for our teacher, Miss Johnson, is said to be more like a primary school teacher than any other here. If there are any more of mamma's pictures at home, I wish you would send me one as soon as you can. The other one, that you said Mr. Zndean sent, never reached me. I wrote to the postmaster in Poughkeepsie about it, but he could not find any trace of it. I am so anxious to see one. Mamma said thefamily did not like them very well. Etta's picture carne all right, though the wrappings were nearly off of it. Aren't you going to send me Clarence H.'s too, or cant Lou part with it? The other day, after I had been out walking with Katharine Dunham for an hour, I found a note on my door saying that Mr. and Mrs. West of Des Moines were in the parlor and would like to see me. I had not the slightest idea who they were, but I went down to the parlor. However, they had gone by that time, so I have not yet found out who they were. They sentup the note about half an hour before I got here. 1 have been wondering whether they are the relatives of the Fuller's, -wir for those are the only people I have heard of that live in Des Moines. But I couldn't remember whether their name was West. Some Des Moines girls were entertaining them while they were here. This morning Ray brought a letter from Mamma down to Greek class, and I read it there. I wish she would stay longer than till tonight, in Ypsilanti.Tomorrow Mr. Thompson is going to have the annual excur- sion to Lake Mo hunk, for the Freshmen, Seniors, and all the new students, in other classes. I wish we could gc, for it is such a beautiful place, and the long ride is a treat. It is twenty miles av/ay, and they ride both ways in buses. You remember we went last year. Katharine Dunham was not sure whether she was going, for she expects her Aunt Belle here today, and if Miss Sutliffe can stay over till tomorrow, of course Katharine wont go toohunk. We had a very exciting meeting of the Students Association night before last. They discussed the question of wearing the cap and gown. Most of the girls are in favor of it, but it can not be done without sending a petition to the Faculty, and getting their permission. This was sent, two or three years ago, asking that the Senior Class might wear them, but the Faculty would not grant that then. So there is a good deal of doubt about whether the Faculty will approve of it this time- I am not sure whether I want them or not. Itseems to me personally that I would rather wear my individual clothes, but still as the majority wanted them I did not vote against them, because I have no real objection, and I did not want to make the petition less unanimous. You have not told me about school, and how you like German, and whether you find it hard. Did you know that we were both read- ing Cicero? We are reading two of his essays, "Be Amicitia", and "De Senectute", which twill leave you to translate. They are very interesting, and I like my Latin teacher, Miss Greene, ever so much. Lovingly Adelaide. jClaflinj Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

February 17, 1895

Text

Vassar College. Feb. 17, 1895 My dear Mother, - We heard from home, in a way, this morning, for Dr.Upham, of the First Baptist Church, preached for us- We liked him very much. I think I had heard him just once at home. Katharine Dunham had him over to Strong for lunch yesterday. It was very nice for her. Irene Lawrence, too, goes to his church, you know. We have had an interesting week this week, with the climax last night when the "Trig. Ceremonies" came off. Every body said it was... Show moreVassar College. Feb. 17, 1895 My dear Mother, - We heard from home, in a way, this morning, for Dr.Upham, of the First Baptist Church, preached for us- We liked him very much. I think I had heard him just once at home. Katharine Dunham had him over to Strong for lunch yesterday. It was very nice for her. Irene Lawrence, too, goes to his church, you know. We have had an interesting week this week, with the climax last night when the "Trig. Ceremonies" came off. Every body said it was the best thing they had seen since they have been in college. Our committee, who wrote it, was very bright and put ever so many cute jokes in it- Ray was one of the committee. The grinds on the Faculty were very good, and not mean, and the Faculty took them beautifully- I never saw them laugh so much. Dr. Taylor chuckled right straight through, and nearly bent double with laughter. They always have the "Ceremonies" printed, so that you can read it and have the Jokes explained in the summer time. Trigonometry was represented by a witch, Goody Trig, who was condemned to be burnt at thetake. When paper they had Goody Trig, tied to the stake they brought out for fuel^lamp- shades which the Board of Trustees have just forbidden us to use any more on account of the danger from fire, and Mrs. Kendrick had just put a notice on the bulletin board to the effect that we must all dispose of our lampshades immediately. I represented Mrs. Kendrick, and I had to sit and knit, and chaperone A.B. - a Puritan maiden with whom '98 was in love, '98, you see, was trying to win A.B. The audience was very enthusiastic and the classes were more hilarious than I ever saw them. Each class cheered for itself, and then they all cheered for Dr. Taylor, andMrs. Kendrick, and some of the Professors.—between the acts. I thought Dr. Upham would think we were a pretty noisy set, but he did not know that this is the only occasion - the great occasion, in the year, when we carry on so. I had a good deal of work in writing the invitations beforehand, on account of my being Secretary- I had to write separate invitations to all the Professors and teachers, and housekeepers and so on. But still I will not have nearly as much work as Secretary of our class, as Carrie has as Secretary of the Y.W.C.A. This week I was appointed a member of the Devotional Committee of the Y.W.C.A. Ray is chairman of the missionary committee.Last night Jo Sleight came and spent the night with us - She was here last year, but does not come this year. She lives only three miles from here, so she comes to see us quite often, and as an ex-student is entitled to spend one day in the college free. She slept In Carrie's bed. since Carrie was invited over to spend the night with Ellen Hailey at one of the cottages. Ellen, you know, is the girl with whom I spent most of my time during the Christmas vacation - We came back from New York together. She is going to become a doctor and is going to a too medical hospital first and be a nurse, for she is quite^ young to enter a medical college. She is going to a hospital next year for she can not afford to go to collegeany longer- (She is an orphan)- So she is a special this semester and takes only what she needs for entering medical college. There are so many who want to come into the college now that all the Specials are banished to live in the cottages- So poor Ellen had to leave us and go over to Mr. Wheeler's to live. Wo have not hoard from Mary for more than two weeks. The last we heard she was talking about spending the winter in Boston, where some friends invited her. But we do not know whether she la there or not. Her brother in Princeton Theological Seminary was very sick, so that her mother had to go there and leave her to keep house. Friday afternoon I heard a very interesting lecture by Prof. John Howard White of Harvard-It was, rather, a talk, for it was at the meeting of the Hellenic Society- composed of girls who take Greek- His subject was a Greek one. In the evening he lectured before the whole college on the "Old Greek Comedy". He was a very fluent and polished speaker. He is a famous authority on Greek subjects - a "big bug." He spent eight months of last year in Athens. Miss Leach had a reception for him afterwards, to which she invited her Junior and Senior Greek classes, and they had ices and coffee for refreshments. I suppose Lou is happy now that her exami- nations are done- Poor girl, 1 am glad she is through with Hall and Knight. I am glad to hear that Clarence is over the mumps- How funny for him to have them at his age. Love to all, and especially to you, dear mother, from your loving daughter Adelaide. [Claflin] Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

December 8, 1895

Text

Vassar College. December 1. 1895. My dear Lou,- This week my chief piece of news is that Ed has been up here. You know Friday was "Phil" — and I had invited Ed. to come up. He came in the evening, just before the lecture - when all the rest of the men came. The lecture was at half-past seven, by Joseph O'Connor - who, everybody says, is "a famous journalist," but I have not yet found anybody who ever heard of him. They tried to get a number of other lecturers first,... Show moreVassar College. December 1. 1895. My dear Lou,- This week my chief piece of news is that Ed has been up here. You know Friday was "Phil" — and I had invited Ed. to come up. He came in the evening, just before the lecture - when all the rest of the men came. The lecture was at half-past seven, by Joseph O'Connor - who, everybody says, is "a famous journalist," but I have not yet found anybody who ever heard of him. They tried to get a number of other lecturers first, but couldn't. I heard that this man was the ninth one theytried to engage- And unfortunately they wished they had not suc- ceeded in engaging him, for he was extremely stupid as a lecturer - As a usual thing the lectures are humorous or light or interesting - in some way - because on such an occasion the audience needs something quite entertaining to keep their attention — For instance, the girls had their brothers or friends whom they had not seen for some time, and as the lecture was stupid, they could not resist the temptation to whisper- The subject of the lecture was literary style, and it was dis- cussed in just about the same way it would be in a rhetoric - the most commonplace definitions - etc.Of course there were a great many pretty dresses to look at - that and the singing by the Glee Club were redeeming features. There were ten promenades- I kept only one of Ed's for myself, because he was to be here Saturday morning- and distributed the rest among my friends- Mary MacColl, Katharine Dunham, Bertha Young, Maidee Traver, Carrie Abbott, Ray, Gertrude Smith, Carrie, and Jo Sleight. Each girl had a certain place for meeting her friends- the seats in the different parlors being all numbered - So at the end of each promenade Ed returned to our seat, and I went there too, to intro- duce him to the next girl he was to have.Kate Dunham took him to the Senior Parlor to show that to him - and he wrote his name In the guest book there. Ray's brothers, Charlie and Fritx, were here, also Mr. Capen, and so this whole crowd of us went in to refreshments together- I think Ray's brother Charlie came partly to see Mr. Capen, because he had never seen him before- I had a promenade with Mr. Capen, and had a very pleasant talk with him - He stayed over for Saturday, and went out walking with Ray, as he always does on his visits- The rest of us always leave the way clear for him and Ray. I saw Adalbert Bronson here as the guest of Annie Childsthe girl who visited them last Summer- Ed came out about nine o'clock Saturday morning, and he and I went out walking—up to Richmond Hill - from the top of which we can see all the country round- He took the 11:40 train back to New York- He said it seemed so funny to be around among girls, that he kept forgetting to take his hat off when I spoke to one passing- He said he had had to take off his hat in the street only once since he had been in New York, and that was when he had happened to meet the Bringhams. Ed said that when he woke up Friday morning he was undecided whether to come up here, because he had such a headache- He said he hadn't seen a well day for six weeks - he has had a stomach ache all the time, and lately he has had headaches with it- His head ached all the time he was up here- For all that, though, he said he had a very good time here, and One nice thing about it was that it was very good weather- we have not had any snow at all, except the little bit that we had over a month ago- It seems strange too, for we hear of snow in all other parts of the country- We shall be able to go skating in a day or two, I think - some beys from town were skating on our pond the other night and some girls early the next morning, but the danger signal is still up - The lake is frozenvery smooth and it will be fine skating- The gymnasium opened last week for regular gym. work— In the fall the basket and battleball teams play so much voluntarily and for others there is so much to attract them outdoors, that we take plenty of exercise outdoors, and gym. does not have to begin till it is too cold to attract us, except for accessary exercise, outdoors. I have heard hardly anything about the Women's College this year- I keep wondering what is going on there. None of the girls there have written to me, because I owe them letters, and have not had time to write to them. Do you see much of Carrie Hardy? Remember me to her the next time you see her, will you? And also to Nina Roberts and Alice Cage and Emilie—and Sadie Adams - I have not even written to her yet- Lovingly your sister Adelaide. (Claflin) Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

December 10, 1893

Text

Vassar College, Dec. 10, 1893 My dear Mamma,—- I have just written a long letter to Edie to Zanesville - I haven't the slightest idea whether or not she is still there, and I have only a few minutes left before bed time, so I can write only a short letter- I do find bed time so inconvenient sometimes, if only I could stay up after ten, la* more than three times a month- but, of course, you will say, it is better for my health. Still when we do take cuts, we generally take good long ones,... Show moreVassar College, Dec. 10, 1893 My dear Mamma,—- I have just written a long letter to Edie to Zanesville - I haven't the slightest idea whether or not she is still there, and I have only a few minutes left before bed time, so I can write only a short letter- I do find bed time so inconvenient sometimes, if only I could stay up after ten, la* more than three times a month- but, of course, you will say, it is better for my health. Still when we do take cuts, we generally take good long ones, to get the full benefit. Friday night after Phil, we did notget to bed till about one. Every year before this Phil has lasted until eleven, but this year they extended the time to twelve. Every body had to go home promptly at that time, but a lot of girls came into our room and talked for a while. I had a pretty good time Phil. Ray's brother Harry came up, and I had a promenade with him, of course. They had it in the main building after all; instead of in the Hall of Casts. They had a small orchestra there, and each prom, was about fifteen minutes long. We walked up and down in the long corridors, which are very well suited to the purpose. Then the college parlors were furnished by the girls, with pretty things, and lots of sofa cushions (by the way I believe there are at least two thousand sofa cushions in this institution; they arc considered more necessary than chairs, and there certainly a good many more of them inmost rooms). Dr. Taylor's parlors were thrown open, too, so that we could step aside and sit down whenever we felt like it. I had promised three other girls to take proms, with their men, but all three of them couldn't come after all. A good many of the men stayed over and spent Saturday here. Lillian Bay lis s had her brother here, who used to be in my Greek class, but of course he wouldn't know me now, aad I am not sorry. I am sure Fred White, who lives next to the Thayer's on Euclid, was here, too, though\at first I did not recog- nise his face because he has changed so much. I wore my commence- ment dress, and I have grown so fat since it was made that I could scarcely get into it, in fact, at first I didn't believe I could wear it. All my dresses are tighter for me than they were, but I can still wear them all easily except that one. I am gdhg to eat less, and exercise more, after this, because I cant afford to be spendingtime or money in letting out my dresses. I took my examination in American History yesterday morning. I reviewed it during Thanksgiving vacation, and on Friday afternoon. I am not sure whether I passed or not, and I do not know how soon I will know. If I did not pass, I will have to take another exam, in it. It was not very easy, and I know several things that I got wrong on it. I am just beginning to think sbout Christmas presents- The cheapest things to buy in this town are books. I saw some very prettily bound ones yesterday very cheap, for instance the "Bird's Christmas Carol" and "Editha's Burglar", the "Bird's Xmas Carol", just like mine for 50 cts. and very pretty editions of other books for from twenty five cts. up. It the family are going to make me any present, a fountain pen would be appreciated most. We will have to take so many notes in ink in the library - but if funds are low, never mind making Xmas presents. Quarter to ten, so goodnight. Your loving daughter Adelaide.Claflin, I was so sorry to hear of Mr. Bingham's death. How can the church get along without him? He has done so much for it for so long. I have been so good this week as to write to Aunt Allic and Mrs. Holway. Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

March 21, 1897

Text

Vassar College. Poughkeepsie. (Marc. 21. 1897, My dear Mother,— I have just finished writing to Ed, I had not written to him for some time, so 1 wrote to him before you, in order to be sure that it would be done. Because I am sure to write home anyway. I have written very few letters this year, except home. I owe one to almost everyb ody I know. And nowjust as I am about through with the Vassar ion work and was expecting to have a little time to write letters and mend my clothes (which need... Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsie. (Marc. 21. 1897, My dear Mother,— I have just finished writing to Ed, I had not written to him for some time, so 1 wrote to him before you, in order to be sure that it would be done. Because I am sure to write home anyway. I have written very few letters this year, except home. I owe one to almost everyb ody I know. And nowjust as I am about through with the Vassar ion work and was expecting to have a little time to write letters and mend my clothes (which need it sadly) and a few other things like that,- then here comes this old Commencement Essay, to be on my mind, even when it is not taking up my time. I am so disgusted about it. I only wish I were one of those lucky people who simply got an honor, without having the added bother of a Commencement speech re tacked on,- especially when everybodyhear- keeps saying that they are extremely tiresome, and that they don't expect to listen.1 We all think they are stupid, and I have never paid much attention to them myself- But they are a great deal of work, because so much more is made of them here than when I had It to do at High School. Here the professors and the English teachers and everybody have to be consulted so much, and so much elocution drill has to be gone through with. As for this last, however, X think it will be quite an advantage to get so muchtraining in elocution gratis. I have n't any Idea yet what I shall take for my subject. Ray has about decided to take one in the line of Economics. Everybody pities Winifred, for having to room with two people who will be tearing their hair from now till June. I think I will give you the list of Honor girls, in case someone might inquire about them. They are: Frances Beckwith Flora Bemkopf Elizabeth Bishop * A. Claflin Martha Clark Eloise Ellery * Grace Landfield.* Nancy McClelland. Anne Rlchey Alice Sawyer. * Rachel Schauffler. Beatrice Shaw * Marion Schibsby. Jessie Thain. Maidee Traver. * Alice Whiton. » means Commencement speaker. As I said before, everybody is very much surprised that Gertrude Smith did not get one. Winifred is awfully bright, but she did not get one because she entered Sophomore, and because she has been sick ever since shehas been in college. I had hoped that Miss Adams would come here to Commencement, as her class is going to have a reunion - its twentieth anniversary - but now I am not axudbus to have her, except that I would like very much to show her around and take her to Class Day. I do wish Edie would come for that reason,*- so that I could show her around the place where I have spent four years; I am sure she would enjoy it, and she will never have another chance probably. I am gladthat you are making arrangements for it, so that I shall have my mother here at any rate. Nina Roberts thinks she can come here to visit us during their Easter vacation, after ours is over. Ours begins this Friday and closes April 6. Nina may have to go to New York, and if so she will stop here, but she thinks she can come here anyway - on a pass. I shall be so glad to have her, for she was so anxious to come here to college, aad has always been crazy to visit here. Edith and I have not yet made definite arrangements about goingto Carrie's. But we shall go down Friday or the Saturday of this-week after this, and stay over Sunday- I expect to spend the day with Ed on my way home, but I have not made final plans yet. this week I may send home by RayAthe waist of my white dress to have the sleeves altered, for the new style is so different. Of course I would not bother about it if I were not going to speak at Com. but the dress will be rather conspicuous then, so that it might be just as well to have the sleeves in style. But don't fix it If you are too busy at home then. Lots of love to all the family, from your loving daughter Adelaide. (Claflin, March 21, 1897. Show less

Creator

Mansfield-Claflin, Adelaide

Date

February 24, 1894

Text

Vassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, Feb. 24. 1894. My dear Papa,- I want to wish you a happy birthday, and many returns of the day. It is too bad that you have to have a broken arm for a birthday present, especially when the gift is strung out over several weeks. Is it a bad break? Isn't it fortunate that it is your left arm, and isn't it fortunate that it is not in the summer, when your "eleven-inch grip" is needed for tightening fruit cans? But at best it is still very... Show moreVassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, Feb. 24. 1894. My dear Papa,- I want to wish you a happy birthday, and many returns of the day. It is too bad that you have to have a broken arm for a birthday present, especially when the gift is strung out over several weeks. Is it a bad break? Isn't it fortunate that it is your left arm, and isn't it fortunate that it is not in the summer, when your "eleven-inch grip" is needed for tightening fruit cans? But at best it is still very unfortunate. However I have taken action that that shall not be your onlybirthday present: for I sent by express today, some "Vassar fudges". I made them all myself - the first time I have made any all alone. Ray wanted to make a box to put them in, so I was glad to let her. She worked at the box while I stirred the fudge, and then we both made the flowers. We cant make fudges in the day time because the gas is turned off, and there was such an interesting lecture last night that we did not want to miss it, so we made it after the lecture was over, when all was still. W e dont borrow stoves any more, but cook it on the drop light after taking off the shade and chimney. To be sure it makes ever so much soot on the bottom of the saucepan and consequently It takes about half an hour to wash the saucepan, but never mind. I don't know how fudges taste when they are two or three days old, as I have never eaten any that have were morethan two hours old. There was such an Interesting lecture last night, by Prof. Stoddart of Oxford, England. It was on the "Meaning and Use of the Color of Animals in their Struggle for Existence." He included not only the color, but the whole appearance of the animals, and, with stereopticon viev/s, showed animals, fishes, and insects, which protect themselves by being the same color as their surroundings, etc. He told of what use certain characteristics were, and explained many interest- ing facts not generally known. Thursday was a holiday - though after this year it is not going to be, because it "breaks into the work," and they do not have it as a holiday at most colleges. I spent a good part of it in cleaning out my closet. I took out every- thing from it, and dusted it all, and brushed the clothes, and rearranged the boxes on my closet shelf, etc. It is quite an art to arrange the closet shelf; we haveto keep so much on it. You see, on holidays I have to substitute my closet for the pantry at home, (though I don't believe my closet needed it quite as much as the pantry generally does, for there is no one but myself to muss it up.). From eleven to half past twelve on Thursday Prof. Dwight was in the Museum, to explain the things there. Quite a number of girls went over and it was very interesting, indeed. I thought it was very kind of Prof. Dwight. First he showed us some of the shells, the freshwater shells, delicate pink and green and brown colors- He spoke of the differences in shape and structure, too, all in a simple way that you could understand. The most expensive shell in the Museum cost $ 80. Prof. Dwight admires the case that holds theshells, as well as the shells themselves- It has not a nail or screw in it, but is all per- fectly joined, with very fine glue. It was sold to the college at a great reduction, for $25000. There was a good deal of coral there, too, and magnified that models, in glass, of tilings that inhabit the sea, and^look a good deal like seaweed. There is a very fine collection of birds, of all varieties and descriptions. Some of them Prof. Dwight spoke of especially in detail, for instance the albatross and cormorants. One of the cormo- rants cost $2000, and there are several birds that cost one or two thousand dollars. Prof. Dwight said that the Museum was really very good. Thursday evening, you know we had a Washington party. Of course there were lots of girls dressed in the regulation colonial style, with old fashioned dresses, kerchiefs, and high powdered hair. But there was somevariety in addition. Men were quite plenty, that is girls, in the guise of men. They all wore black skirts, and a few were fortunate enough to have real coats, others took their dress- waist that most resembled a coat, and made large cuffs, and gold or silver pasteboard buttons, large ones- A silk handkerchief, (with gold pasteboard buttons) folded across the front, made a beautiful waistcoat, and the "stock" was represented by two or three hand- kerchiefs generally- Then immense pasteboard buckles appeared on the shoes. For the three cornered hats the girls merely took the trimming off of one of theirs, and bent them up. Then there were Spanish Cavaliers, English lords, and French Marquises; to say nothing of a squad of British red-coats, (in red paper muslin coats);. Arlle Raymond escorted me; she was Gen Anthony Wayne. Shehas trouble with her foot, so that she has to carry a cane all the time, and that was quite an addition. She had a snuff box, Edie's silver stamp box, filled with a mixture of salt and pepper, and she offered some to President Taylor. I wore the dress that Edie sent to me, and the kerchief, and had my hair high and powdered- Ray was quite a sensation, as a^X Hessian Baron. She had some rubber boots, borrowed from a girl, a military coat, which one of the girls got from a boy in the Military Academy in town, and an astonishing bear skin drum-major hat, or rather head-dress, made of a heaver- cape rolled up, and kept on with hat pins and a black ribbon under the chin. Miss Nettleton thought it was a real drum major's and asked her where she got it. Ray carried out her character so well, and was extremely gallant, but she saysshe won't be a man next time, it is too hard work to be so gallant. In one corner of the room they had an "Authentic Collection of Relics", such as a common hand-bell labeled "Liberty Bell, a little dirt done up in tissue paper, labeled "From Bunker Hill," an old broken-nosed teapot, a kitchen spoon, and a cracked cup and saucer, the "Boston Tea Party," a piece of ice in a fruit jar, which was "With Washington when he crossed the Delaware, a very worn out haircloth piano stool, purporting to have been used by Nellie Custis, a section of the heel of a girl's shoe, illustrating the "Stamp Act", and many others equally interesting and instructive. During the evening there was a cake walk, by ten or twelve girls dressed as darkies. It was won by a couple, one of whom was a short fat man, (a girl who has the most peculiar and ungraceful gait in college) and a very tall thin girl, who took little mincing steps. After that they passedaround popcorn balls to everybody. All the tables were deco- rated that evening and the girls wore their costumes down to dinner. We had carnations and srrdlax and candles and some pretty little favors, that Ray made, two or three of us helping her. They were little boxes made of pink crepe tissue paper, with the top ruffled all around, and a little pink flower to hold each corner. They had a few pink and white peppermint drops in each. This morning some of the girls wanted to have some kodak pictures taken of them in costume so a Senior was found who wanted to do it, and a half dozen or so of us had her take us; we had two groups all together, and then several of two or three girls. Ray and I had one where she was kneeling before me in a loverlike attitude and I was looking at her with extreme scorn. I don't know whetherthe pictures will be good, as the Senior did not seem especially care- ful: but if thsy are, and don't cost more than six or seven cents, I shall buy one or two. This letter sounds as if our life was one grand round of fun, but you always have to remember that it is those things that we write about, and of course we don't mention very much the hard work that we have, and the lessons that worry us all the time etc. I hope that your arm will soon be better, papa, and that it won't trouble you a great deal. I am so sorry you broke it. X got your letter containing the bill, and I guess it will be all right to wait, and pay it when 1 feel like it. Of course this letter is for Lhe rest of the family to read too. With ever so much love from your daughter Adelaide. 4Claflin, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

October 18, 1896

Text

Vassar College. Oct. 18. 1896. My own dear Father,— I am going to be energetic today, and write my letter now between Bible class and church. The Bible classes met for the first time this morning: it is a branch of T.W.C.A. work that has just been started up this year. Before this we had only the Bible lectures Sunday evenings; we stil4r have them, but wewanted something more, that would give us a systematic plan of study for each day. So we organised five classes of about a dosen esch, three... Show moreVassar College. Oct. 18. 1896. My own dear Father,— I am going to be energetic today, and write my letter now between Bible class and church. The Bible classes met for the first time this morning: it is a branch of T.W.C.A. work that has just been started up this year. Before this we had only the Bible lectures Sunday evenings; we stil4r have them, but wewanted something more, that would give us a systematic plan of study for each day. So we organised five classes of about a dosen esch, three to study the life of Christ and two to study the foreshadowings of Christ in the Old Testament. We use outlines prepared by Prof. Burton of Chicago — who happens to be our Bible lecturer this year. The course is arranged for fifteen minutes * study every day, and we meet Sunday morning for an hour right after breakfast. Ray is the leader of one of the Old Testament eeusse classes, and I havethe other. I think the work will be very interesting. I wish we could spend more time on it, but of course we are all so busy that we can not plan for everything that we would like. I always think I shall get a great deal of work done on Saturday, but somehow or other, so many things come up on Saturday that I never succeed in getting much studying done. Most of Friday afternoon this week I spent in bicycle riding. Did I tell you that Ray has her bicycle here, and I rent an houra day on it? We have not had the use of it very long because it was about two weeks after she got here before she could get a man to unpack it. But for tha last two weeks I have been out whenever the weather permitted. Unfortunately we have had a great deal of rain. Friday afternoon was the first time that I have taken a long ride; another girl and I rode for two hours.Friday evening we had another campaign demonstration. Mr. McKinley received four delegations at his home. That is, we had a girl dressed up as Mr. McKinley, another as his wife, and a corner of the Lecture Room fixed up as the porch of his house. There happened to be a door in the corner, which represented his front door, and we had two platforms together, for his porchWhere are the Walker Iron Works, or Electric works, or some kind of works? A girl here has a brother there now. The Rev. Egertoa R. Young, whom we heard at home two or three years ago, is going to speak to us tonight.floor, with posts at the corners, wound with branches of autumn leaves and vines, to look like a vine twining up around pillars. Mr. McK. and his wife sat on the platform, together with Ex-President and Mrs. Harrison who and Baby McKee, and Gov.-elect Black of New York state, who happened to be visiting at the House - and also, last but not least — Mark Hanna, (whose part throughout this campaign is taken by Ray, - the chairman of the committee). Of course the Lecture Room was crowded, so we had to have police toclear a path for the delegations. There were two delegations of workingmen, who were dressed up In old coats, overalls, old straw hats, etc. and they carried Implements such as the hods that bricklayers use for carrying bricks, etc. — where they managed to get them I do not know. The head of each delegation made a short speech to Mr. MeKinley, and then he replied, and afterwards invited them to shake hands with him and his wife. Another delegation was composed of dudes, - "Young Men's MeKinley Club from Chappieville",They were splendid - You would not believe that intelligent girls could look so much like anane dudes. Of course most of them wore eye-glasses, and cork mustaches, and parted their hair in the middle, and for canes they carried short window-poles, with brass ends, which they held in their mouths a good part of the time. The last delegation was the "New Woman's Gold Standard Brigade", which they asked me to see to. I got Mary MacColl to make the speech, and she was fine - dressed up in the most severe and strong minded fashion, with her hair twisted into a tight knot, and big spectacles oa. She made a fierce and emphatic speech in the regular old Woman's Rights style, jerking her head and continually taking off her spectacles and using them inesturing. After her speech I read an "ode" a la Mrs. N. Coe Stewart la the Women's delegation which went from Cleveland in the summer. I was entirely a different type from Mary - the high-faluten simpering type of the New Woman. I tried to model some- what after Gay Stewart. The ode - which Ray wrote - was full of high-faluten mixed figures etc. I wore my bonnet, with the addition of 8t flowing strings, and my red cape, and a stunning^veil of pink chiffon - my liberty scarf. Some of our delegation were rigged out in swell things and others - the strong-minded specieswore bicycle suits. After all the speeches, the delegations formed in line and had a procession up and down the second and third corridors. Every 4h4»g-body was so enthusiastic and entered so much into the spirit of things that we had a very jolly time,—lots of singing and yelling. Last night the Gold Democrats had a mass-meeting. They are few in number but they happen to have in their ranks some fine speakers, so they had a very entertaining time. Republicans were invited to the meeting, on the ground that "there is yettime to reform". Secretary Whitney, Grover Cleveland, Col. Breckinridge and others made speeches - very bright ones-. The girl who represented Grover Cleveland was made to look pretty much like him, and wore a stove pipe hat, which greatly added to the impression. A novel feature was the presence of the "shades "true" of the old^Democratic party - Jefferson and three or four others. They were entirely covered by sheets andwhich said, "The True Democracy, present in spirit". Yesterday half of the Freshmen and half the Seniors went to Lake Mohunk: next Saturday the rest of us go. I do hope it will not rain. Mamma asked me about Ed's letters. I would like to have them sent, because he can not find time to write me very much; and you can send 4h> him mine, if he will take care to keep them - for I will have no other record of what goes on in college. I will send his back home, jLovc to all, Adelaide. (Claflin,By the way, will the next person that goes down town, please by at Crow & Whitmarsh's or somewhere, one of those big pictures of McKinley, like the one I brought with me, and send it to me by mail? Ours, which has been on the outside of our door all this time, was used by a Republican, who substituted t for a picture of Bryan in the Free Silver "banquet hall." The silverites, when they discovered it, indignantly tore it to shreds; and we don't want to be without one on our door. They can't be bought in this town. If you can't get that kind some other kind will do. Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

February 2, 1896

Text

Vassar College. Feb. 2. 1896. My dear Mother,— A hard week Is over aad a comparatively easy week is before as. Our exams, were harder than usual, aad also harder to prepare for. Our exam, in Thucydides was the worst. Miss Leach gave us for the first question a passage to translate, which was the very hardest passage In the book. Some of the girls had Just reviewed It, but a good many * Including myself - had not looked at it since we had it about two months ago. ft was so long that I had done... Show moreVassar College. Feb. 2. 1896. My dear Mother,— A hard week Is over aad a comparatively easy week is before as. Our exams, were harder than usual, aad also harder to prepare for. Our exam, in Thucydides was the worst. Miss Leach gave us for the first question a passage to translate, which was the very hardest passage In the book. Some of the girls had Just reviewed It, but a good many * Including myself - had not looked at it since we had it about two months ago. ft was so long that I had done less thanhalf of It by the time an hour and a half had passed. Since we can have only two hours for our exam, I decided that X had better leave it and go on to the next question. So X wrote on my paper "I have spent an hour and a half on so much, so I am going to leave out the rest of this translation"- then I went on to the next question, aad had time to do about half ot it. Hot a person in the class had time to begin on the third question, and there were seven questions In all. X guess Miss Leach repented giving us that first question, for she couldn't have a chance to see what else we could do. Two of my examinations came on Monday and one each daythe rest of the week. Some of the girls studied about four hours for each one, but X did not have time, because X went over for two hours nearly every day to help Prof. Moulton with some hektograph work. X did some copying for him at Thanksgiving, and as the sine of my handwriting suited him he wanted me to write for the hektograph work. I was glad to have a chance to learn to use the hektograph, It waa quite interesting, I never knew before what kind of a thing it was - it is a flat pan filled with a stiff gelatine substance, to which you transfer your writing, aad then trans- fer it from there to other sheets. For Astronomy, which came Friday afternoon, we studiedthree or four hours. We had to cram on that, for it is a lecture course entirely, so that there is no occasion to learn anything during the year, though we had to read aad take notes every week. On that exam, we had ever a chance to tell everything we^heard of - it was so very comprehensive. It is not very pleasant to have an exam. Friday afternoon, for by that time nearly everybody is through, and enjoying themselves. In fact some girls got through W ednesday- Ray got through Thursday, and early Friday morning she went down to Brooklyn to her cousin Mary's- where Mr. Capen and Harry were to be also. I hope the changewill do her good,- I think seeing Mr. Cfipen will work a cure- For Ray has not been very well lately- She nearly fainted in her first exam, and has felt rather queer all the week. Yesterday afternoon Carrie and I went down town- I had to take my watch, which stopped all of a sudden the other day and would not start up again- I had not done anything to it, so I concluded it needed cleaning, and the Jeweler said that was what was the matter. This morning Carrie and I walked into town to church. It was miserable walking, you had to look at your leet all the time to keep them out of water. But the air was so fresh and the day so clear that we enjoyed it. Wewent to the Presbyterian Church. They have a new minister, but we did not like him very much, because he was so dramatic and emphatics. are away from college between semesters, so we had a service of song instead. My program for next semester is a little more convenient than last semester's, but our work is still rather scattered because we have history from quarter of four till quarter of five. Miss Salmon insists on having it then, because she can get more done during the day by having her recitations at the end of It, but the girls all dislike it very much. We cant get so much done during the day soso long as we have history still hovering over us. Here is my schedule: Tonight the Bible lecture was omitted, because so many girls Moil I 8.30 n HI 9.30 10.30 Gym- IV V VI vn 11.30 1.45 2.45 3.45 Greek Biology Wed. Gym, Tues Greek nasium Psych- Laboratory Lab. ology work Greek Biology History History Th. Greek Psych* ology Greek Gym History FrL Psych- Lab. ology Lab. Biology Feb. 2, 1896 - 4 Give my love to the neighbors and friends- Love to all Adelaide. (Claflin, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

December 26, 1894

Text

Vassar College. Dec. 26. 1894. My dear sister, * How I wished you were here yesterday afternoon when your box came. I would have hugged the breath out of you. I was sitting alone in my room when the expressman knocked at my door and handed in the box. You ought to have seen me cut the string in a dozen places, though the girls have always declared that if I ever had a box, I would sit down and untie every knot. Everything in the box was in beautiful order,and perfectly lovely. That good... Show moreVassar College. Dec. 26. 1894. My dear sister, * How I wished you were here yesterday afternoon when your box came. I would have hugged the breath out of you. I was sitting alone in my room when the expressman knocked at my door and handed in the box. You ought to have seen me cut the string in a dozen places, though the girls have always declared that if I ever had a box, I would sit down and untie every knot. Everything in the box was in beautiful order,and perfectly lovely. That good peanut candy that I have wished for so often - all that is bought always has the skins on the peanuts- and those popcorn balls that I used to help make, and oranges to eat when I am tired of sweet things. Mamma's picture frame is pretty enough, I am sure. How she did fool me about returning the other photograph.' I thought she was making fine distinctions. I am so glad to have her picture in a suitable frame. The tea-cloth is handsome. I am very proud of it. The only trouble is that I am afraid it is too nice to use, but I shall try to take good care of it. The rest of the girls will take pride in it, too, for it will be a great addition to our parlor. I am going to put it on the tea- have table just before the girls get back- I^tried it on already and it looks scrumptious. That little cup and saucer is a beauty, it is the best one we have now. I was ao pleased that Mrs. Benbow remembered me- I was just wondering the day before, what I should do when when Jan. 1 came, and my little calendar would be "ho of no use any more. My new one is prettier than my old one, and I like the veraes on it. I think perhaps Alice Page's gift surprised me the most, for X had ao idea she could paint or print like that. I think it Is a beautiful little souvenir, and such an original idea- X thbk ever ao much of it. The ahoe bag is just what X wanted- only more spacious than I had thought of, so it will hold soiled handkerchiefs, or something like that, besides all my shoes. Denim is just the thing for that, isn't it? It will not show dirt and is easily brushed clean.I always think it is rather suggestive to get writing paper for Christmas- From the way Bess speaks about my writing to her, I should suspect that it was she who put it in. But of course it is a very nice thing to get, for there will always be use for it. in Clarence's letter and the fountain pen came^yeaterday morning's mail. It is the best kind of a fountain pen, and with good care ought to last me a long time. I am glad the pen is finer. Of course I will send Liou my old one, and am glad to have her have the use of it. It is a pretty good pen, if the cap is cracked. Bessie Metlin sent me Ruskin's "Sesame and Lilies," a very gave pretty edition. Ray, Mary and Belle-#eafr»me a bunch of violets, had them sent out from the floristi's on Christmas morning. Gertrude Smith gave me a little bit of a round bowl, just big enough to hold a few violets or something like that. Ellen Hailey gave me a real pretty bag for fancy work, blue silk outside and white inside, with pockets all around. Everybody has been so good to me. Yesterday X went to the Episcopal church with Ellen Hailey and Gertrude Smith, who are Episcopalians. They had a very long service - it lasted two hours and We spent the day very quietly - in the evening ice-cream was served in the parlors downstairs- Very few of the Faculty are left now. Mrs. Kendrick has not been here since college closed, and she is not coming back till it opens- Christmas vacationis the only time when she can take a rest. Dr. Taylor has some relatives visiting him, His son Hunt and a nephew sat with the Seniors at dinner last night- a rare privilege. I don't know what to do about New York now. We got word that all the rooms at the Margaret Louisa Home are engaged except for just the last part of vacation. So of course we cannot hear the Messiah, for that is given only this week. Ellen and X do not know whether we want to go at the very end of vacation and when we cannot hear the Messiah, more than we may want to go some other time. At least we will not be able to decide till we hear from the Margaret Louisa Home again.I am crocheting a pair of bed-slippers for May Holmes. If I get them done in time I may send them to her for New Year's, other- wise I shall wait till next Christmas. The time is going all too fast, and I am afraid vacation will be over before X know it. The letters from the whole family came this morning and were a great treat. It is seldom indeed that I get letters from all the family in so short a time. But you are all awfully good about writing to me, and we do appre- ciate letters here. Tell Lou I got her catalogue but first I had to send two cents to Cleveland for it. It seems that it takes for a catalogue. Papa's letter with the money in it came all right this noon, so Iwould have had it if I had been going to N.Y. tomorrow. It came the quickest of any letter yet that I know of. Letters written Sunday reach me Tuesday if they are mailed down town early Monday morning, -e*» but when they are mailed at the station I don't get them till Wednesday noon. It is not very cold weather now, so that there has been no ice yet, strong enough for skating. I was in hopes that there would be plenty of skating. I saw Dr. Thwing's book, "The Coliege Woman" in a girl's room the other day, and borrowed it, bat I have read only a little ot it. He seems to do a great deal of writing for books and magazines. Give my love to the neighbors, and the girls. I must write now to Mrs. Benbow and Bessie Mitlin and Alice Page. Lovingly your sister Adelaide. jClaflin, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

November 4, 1894

Text

Vassar College. Nov. 4. 1894 My dear Mamma, - I am rather behind with my letter-writing. I have just been telling Clarence about how we went to Mrs. Piatt's to dinner after church, and we did not get home till about three oclock- and then two girls came in to see us and stayed pretty long. All the Sophomores are tired today. We had an essay due yesterday at six oclock, and they have given us no extra time to write it in, and we have so much to do all the time that we don't have... Show moreVassar College. Nov. 4. 1894 My dear Mamma, - I am rather behind with my letter-writing. I have just been telling Clarence about how we went to Mrs. Piatt's to dinner after church, and we did not get home till about three oclock- and then two girls came in to see us and stayed pretty long. All the Sophomores are tired today. We had an essay due yesterday at six oclock, and they have given us no extra time to write it in, and we have so much to do all the time that we don't have sparetime to use for essays. We were supposed to begin writing it four or five weeks ago, but a large part of the class did not begin till yesterday. Mary and Belle and I being among the out number. W e came up from breakfast and putAour engaged sign as soon as we had made our beds. We each settled ourselves in a dif- ferent room and began to grind out an essay, and every once in a while one went around to see how the other two were getting along. We had to think out our subject and make our analysis, so that by lunchtime we had not accomplished much. We all spent about an hour and a half on our first two sentences: but after lunchtime, we had gotten beyond the start, and could gon more easily. W e buckled down desperately and said not a word to each other till about five oclock, when I finished mine. Then we copied just as fast as we could, and I finished copying mine exactly at six oclock. Mary and Belle had to spend part of the evening copying theirs, they did not go down to dinner. When we handed them in, we did not know which was greater, our relief or our weariness. We have to go through this ordeal once every six weeks, just as we did last year. The subjects given us this time were not very goOd, Belle and I wrote on "The Dangers of Work"- Reflections of a Lazy Man," and we chose it, just as a good many other girls did, because weouldn't write on any of the others. I have had a good deal of communication from Aunt Allie this week. Friday the box came, with the red jacket. It is quite flaring, and I don't like very well to wear a thing so conspicuous- still it is not so conspicuous here as it would be at home, for in this clean place they wear lighter colors than they do at home, and besides it doesn't matter so much what we wear here, for there are not many people who see us when we are out walking- So I think I shall make some use of the jacket. Besides that. Aunt Allie put in two lovely handkerchiefs, one pink silk crepe, with a fancy edge, and the other black chiffon with yellowflowers worked in it. They will be very pretty to wear pinned at my neck, the way the girls do. Then there was a Windsor tie to wear with shirt-waists—white with blue figures, and a red fan, and two photographs of Aunt Allie, taken in Pueblo. The photographer did not know how to manage the light, for he had it fall on her face so as to make ber look rather ghostly, especially in one- That one is a miserable picture, and the other looks pretty well, but Aunt Allie has her neck low and her hair fixed up so that she looks like a young girl. It makes rather a pretty picture but not a good likeness. By mail yesterday she sent a picture of Uncle Henry, which is very good, looks just about the same as the one at homeexcept that he is not smiling at all in this one. A letter came from Aunt Allie Friday- telling about the things, etc. I am going to write to her right away. The girls all had to get out their felt hats to v/ear into town today- We keep on all our summer things as long as possible. Around the grounds the girls still wear their summer hats, though they are beginning to bring out their ' tarns". Shirt-waists are still common, I wear mine occasionally- and with warm underclothes they are per- fectly comfortable, here in this building, though I could not v/ear them late last year, when I had to run back and forth to Strong Hall. Yester- day five Juniors went down town and had theirpictures taken, all sitting in a row and wearing shirt-waists and sailor hats. I suppose Miss Sutliffe is at home by this time, and has told Miss Cornell you how we are fixed here. Katharine's roommate^is a girl who is very nice in herself, but who went with a girl last year whose reputation is not enviable, a rude and forward girl, in a higher class. This year Miss Cornell does not go with this girl at all, and by means of Katharine, has a chance to go with some of the nicest girls in her class, and it is doing a very good thing for her, since she is really a very nice girl. Several girls in her class told me this, and said that Katharine was really doing missionary work for Miss Cornell. Katharine seems to begetting acquainted with the nicest girls, and is very well fixed. Did I tell you that R.ay has been asked to sing in the College Glee Club? It will be some work to attend the rehearsals, but still it is considered a very nice thing to be a member of the Glee Club. They will probably be invited down to New York to sing at the Alumnae Banquet there, and they have some other social privileges. Ray sings in the choir now, too. Well, I cannot write longer tonight, for I am very sleepy and rather tired. I forgot to tell you that I have not had the headache any more since that time I wrote you about it, though I have taken cuts since then. Lovingly Adelaide. (Claflin, Show less

Creator

Mansfield-Claflin, Adelaide

Date

September 30, 1894

Text

Vassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, Sept. 30. 1894. My dear Mamma,— It seems a long, long time since last Sunday when I wrote to you. The first week after a change of surroundings always seems long, because there is so much that is new to see and hear. We appreciate Sunday because we are so busy during the week. I am so glad that Edie and Miss Clara got their trip after all, I wasn't at all sure that they wouldn't be fooled again. And then, by Friday night, they had time to get ready... Show moreVassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, Sept. 30. 1894. My dear Mamma,— It seems a long, long time since last Sunday when I wrote to you. The first week after a change of surroundings always seems long, because there is so much that is new to see and hear. We appreciate Sunday because we are so busy during the week. I am so glad that Edie and Miss Clara got their trip after all, I wasn't at all sure that they wouldn't be fooled again. And then, by Friday night, they had time to get ready more carefully. I hope the tripdid Edie lots of good, and gave her a nice rest after that lot of sewing. I hope now that she will get herself something to wear and take it comparatively easy- It was lovely for them to have such beautiful weather while they were up the lakes. They had better luck than Clarence did. When you wrote that JLou did not borrow Katharine Dunham's JLivy after all, I sent limine right away, together with Wilkins' Roman Literature. Is there any other book that Lou wants ? I wanted her to write to me all the books she needed to get, so that I could see whether I could get any of them for her. Does she need Genung's Practical Elementsof Rhetoric, for I have one and can't sell it, because they are not going to use it here any more. If she wants Stille's Studies in Mediaeval History or any other history books ^let me know. The Trigonometry and Horace's Odes, I will send home at Christmas. Mamma, Clarence says that Aunt Lizzie wants you so badly, \ you ought to go up there. Isn't it cool enough weather now? The idea of Annie and Emma making cakes and pies and churning butter. I think of them as almost babies. I am so glad the Christian Endeavor Society made $100 out of the concert. I wasafraid that it would not be such a big thing as they expected, but that was more than they hoped for, wasn't it? Is papa in earnest about going to Attleboro, or did he just say he would like to go? For if he goes, of course he would stop here, and see me. He must tell me about it, and just when it is going to be. It will be a good trip for him to Attleboro and I know he will be interested in seeing Poughkeepsie too, if it is a slow old town. And of course he could see everything about the college, and then he would know what I talk about. Etta's picture came Friday afternoon and is very good,I think. I -est-thought Clarence had his picture taken with her. I will write to her pretty soon, as she was so good as to write to me the first thing. Bess was angelic to write me three times in a week. Miss Sutliffe and Miss Gouldy came here Friday afternoon and went yesterday morning. I guess Katharine was pretty glad to see her. They called in our room Friday evening. Miss Gouldy seems to be very nice. We showed them our rooms, and they told us who used to room here when they were here. They stayed in this building over night, as guests of the college. Miss Sutliffe is coming again next week.We had a grand celebration here in our room last night, for my birth- day- the girls got it up for a surprise party but about evening time they decided to tell me. Ray had been to town in the morning to do some errands for us, and what else do you think she did? She bought some oysters. They got one of the girls to take me walking in the afternoon and while I was gone they fixed things, and invited the guests. The guests were five in number Katharine Dunham, Carrie Hardin, Gertrude Smith, Maidee Traver and Mary Tarbox. We had a real nice time and everybody seemed to enjoy it.Ray and Belle fried the oysters in a sauce pan, after dipping them in egg and cracker crumbs. They were good, too, though I suppose not very wholesome. It was the lirst time I had ever heard of girls' frying oysters here. They made us chocolate to drink too, and then when we thought we were through Ray brought out a little Charlotte never Russe for each of us' We^tho^t o£ having such swell things before. the oysters But Ray did^for my birthday- and Mary and Belle furnished the Charlotte Russe for their present. Katharine Dunham brought a box of candy - which Miss Sutliffe had gone and boughtfor me when she went to town. Gertrude Smith and Anna Bur chard gave me a little cup and saucer. Ray gave me a piece of stuff that\y Fritz brought from Syria and had given to her. It was a square for a sofa cushion cover, and Ray bought enough red silk to go with it and is going to put it on the pillow she made at home, when she let all the feathers into her room. Our room looks quite homelike now. It was very good of Bess to send me the stamps— the most useful present she could have made. I thank her very much. I have been waiting and watching for your picture but no sign of it yet. We have begun to study in earnest and have no leisure any more.This week I have been helping a girl with algebra. She has to take a re-examination in it. That takes an hour a day- We have had Prof. Lucy Salmon talk to us in History this week. She is fine, the most inspiring teacher I ever listened to, but we are going to have her just once in a while when she feels like it. I would have written another sheet but the bell struck for bedtime, so I can't say all I want to now. Adelaide. (Claflin,Sophomore year 1894-5 Roomed in 166, 4th North firewall, with R.C. Schauffler, Belle Whitney & Mary MacCall, sec. sem. Carrie Hardin replaced Mary MacCall. Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

October 11, 1896

Text

Vassar Collage. Oct. 11. 1896. My dear Lou,— I suppose you are thoroughly settled in college by this time, and mamma says you like it better than ever. The Junior year is pretty fine, but I think the Senior year beats it after all, for I think I am going to enjoy this year even more than last. Perhaps that is a good deal due to the fact that I have such congenial room mates- we have such good times together. There have been so many extra things to do that I have had very hard work to get my... Show moreVassar Collage. Oct. 11. 1896. My dear Lou,— I suppose you are thoroughly settled in college by this time, and mamma says you like it better than ever. The Junior year is pretty fine, but I think the Senior year beats it after all, for I think I am going to enjoy this year even more than last. Perhaps that is a good deal due to the fact that I have such congenial room mates- we have such good times together. There have been so many extra things to do that I have had very hard work to get my lessons in, especially as most of my studies are those that take a good deal of time to prepared. I would like to have some "snaps" but I have none. Ethics comes the nearest to being one- We have Prexy for Ethics- it seemed so queer at first to be in his class, but we are used to it now. Last year, while Prexy was in Europe, they had Prof. French for Ethics! I am gladthat did not happen this year, for Prexy is much more interesting in class. By the way, Ray and Winifred and I called on Mrs. French the other day- She is the one who was married last summer- whom Mrs. Height knew about. Mrs. French is an intimate friend of Miss Sarah De Wolf - Mrs. Fuller's sister. Shorter Course German is a very exacting subject - there are such definite things to learn for every lesson, that you can't slide over the lessons, or get them in a hurry at all. We have to learn lots ofproverbs and fables and such things, to recite in class. Greek end History ere just about the same as they were last year,—but English is the hardest thing I have. When I elected it I expected to "sail thro* bloody seas" and I am doing it, with a vengeance, but as I also expected, I am learning a great deal, because I know so very little in it. Miss Wylie gives us lor each lesson enoughwork to take a week, so that I am always behindhand- I wanted to read magaaines and newspapers a great deal this year, but so far I have not even been to the Reading Room to read at all. W e had a great time yesterday beginning the campaign. Ray is chairman of the Republican campaign committee, and Gertrude Smith is chairman of the Gold Democrats. The chairman of the Silver Democrats is Sarah Dudley, who also sits at our table. The committees were just elected Friday night, but Ray wanted to get ahead of the other two, by making the first splurge. So she worked all day yesterday getting up performances for the evening, after chapel. G. Smith got wind of it, though, and planned a meeting of the gold Democrats before chapel, as Ray found out. So early in the afternoon Ray had great big posters put up around In the corridors, announcing the meetingafter chapel. If the gold Dems. had not found out about the meeting, these posters would have been sprung on them just before dinner. The posters were printed (with shoeblacking) on immense sheets of brown papers, and ran somewhat as follows: "Are you a Republican? Do you want a full purse after Nov. 3? Come to the Republican Rally tonight.* Hear Speaker Reed, Ex-pres. Harrison, Senator Allison, Senator Sherman, and Mark Hanna. Campaign songs and speeches and a rousing meeting —in the Lecture Room at eight oclockj Overflow meetings provided for!" Some of the girls had made a cloth banner about ten feet long, which said "Vassar for McKinley and Hobart, Protection and Sound Money, Peace and Prosperity"-bu*-t*r and stretched it up just inside the front door, where all the visitors would see it the first thing, but this Prexymade them take down,- 1 suppose for fear visitors would think it had been put up by the officials of the College. To get in one ahead of the Gold Democrats, we Republicans came out from dinner early, formed in a procession and marched through the corridors singing a song composed for the occasion, and we came to a pause ia front of the room where the gold Democrats werejust gathering, and sang for their benefit, and cheered for McKinley. At half past seven the Lecture room was filled, and very soon two other rooms, and in those meetings there was lots of fun and noise. I was in the Lecture Room, where Ray presided, dressed up as Mark Hanna. A Sophomore, dressed as Speaker Reed, made the chief speech, though she was not nearly so good as Ray- She had had to get it up - I mean the Sophomore did -4*t very unexpectedly, so she forgot at nearly every sentence; bat the audiencewas very indulgent, and at the end of every sentence clapped long enough to allow her to look at the next one -- for it was all down on paper on the table. In Ray's speech she said that our forefathers would turn over in their graves at the present actions of some of our citiaens— when lo - the shade of George Washington appeared at a door in the corner, and advanced and made a strong speech in behalf of Mcftinley and sound money. We shall have something political going on next Saturday and the Saturday after - probably — aprocession and a debate etc. There are only five Silverites in our class, and eight or nine gold Democrats, and all the rest go in for McKinley. In '98 there was not a single Silverite. W e have a very fine Bible Lecturer now,- Prof. Burton, of Chicago Univ.—the best one there has been since I have been here- This morning we had the Episcopal service - Dr. Vibert of N.Y. City. After church Mrs. Kendrick cameto our room and asked if she might bring the minister to show him our room. We were lounging around around on the couch, and immediately without saying a word we all jumped up began to straighten up the room and fix the couch pillows. Mrs. Kendrick laughed — We had a pleasant time when the minister came in - he was very jovial. Since we are on the Senior corridor, our room has to be shown off frequently. Love to all. Adelaide. |Ciaflin, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

February 16, 1894

Text

Vassar College, Feb. 16, 1894. Papa, I Hope you notice the classic beginning to my letter, which shows that I have been imbibing Homer. We were reading in the Odyssey the other day about a maiden who asked her father for something and addressed him in the above phrase, which means "papa dear." I never knew before that the word papa was In the Greek literally, except that it is spelled pappa. And now that I have addressed you as the Greek maiden did, I must follow her example further... Show moreVassar College, Feb. 16, 1894. Papa, I Hope you notice the classic beginning to my letter, which shows that I have been imbibing Homer. We were reading in the Odyssey the other day about a maiden who asked her father for something and addressed him in the above phrase, which means "papa dear." I never knew before that the word papa was In the Greek literally, except that it is spelled pappa. And now that I have addressed you as the Greek maiden did, I must follow her example further, and ask you for something, and that is, toplease attend to my semester bill, which came this morning, and which I am requested to forward to you immediately. You see there are no charges for extras, as I have taken pains to need no medical attendance or extra washing. It is very easy for me to get along without extra washing, and I dont see how it is that some girls have laundry bills of forty or fifty cents every week. Still I dont know many girls who have not had some laundry bills. And it is extremely economical to keep well. There is one girl who has been in the Infirmary since the day after Christmas vacation, and the charges are $ 1.50 per day. She has a kind of malarial fever. In Hygiene last week we had a lecture on House Sanitation, in which Dr. Thelberg told us all about waste pipes and drain pipes, and traps, but she did not describe the kind of traps we have at home, under the sink. There is a regular March wind howling around today, though theyget the worst of it on the other side of the house. There is a great deal of snow on the ground. It has snowed so much and so steadily, and the snow never has time to melt away before more comes. I think the ground has not been bare of snow since Christmas. Last Saturday the Vassar Glee Club went down to New York to sing before the New York Alumnae at their annual lunch. President the Glee Club Taylor and some of the Faculty went along, and the^had a good deal of pleasure, considering that their expenses were all paid. They had a public rehearsal here the night before, so that we could have the benefit of their songs too. Friday Tonight Prof. Stoddart of the University of the City of N.Y. will lecture here on "Some Aspects of Shakspere's Maturity, as Shown In the "Tempest." They say he Is very good. I am not sure whether I shall go or not, as I have to have an essay in tomorrow, and I have notyet even decided on my subject. In English we have just begun to study Charles Lamb, and we are reading the Essays of Ella now. For today we have to read as many of them as we can. Today we have Elocution. Last week in Elocution we each had to read aloud, and Ray selected on purpose a piece with a great many r's in it. The Elocution teacher, who pro- nounces (?) her r's in the Eastern fashion, made Ray pronounce words over and over so that she would not "pronounce her r's in the back part of her mouth" as she expresses it. Miss Monroe says, "That's bettah." With love to all from your affectionate daughter, * Adelaide Claflin. and love to you from Rachel. Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

February 14, 1897

Text

Vassar College, Pougb keeps ie, N.Y. jFeb. 14, IB97, / My dear Mother,-— Ed's letter that you forwarded came on the evening mail yesterday. I think that is the first time this year that I have gotten anything by that mail. There were some flowers in it, but I do not know what they are. The paper that came yesterday had a good deal of news in it. I am so sorry Dr. Upham has resigned; I liked him so much. There was a decided differencein the resignation letters of Dr. Upham and Dr. Ladd,... Show moreVassar College, Pougb keeps ie, N.Y. jFeb. 14, IB97, / My dear Mother,-— Ed's letter that you forwarded came on the evening mail yesterday. I think that is the first time this year that I have gotten anything by that mail. There were some flowers in it, but I do not know what they are. The paper that came yesterday had a good deal of news in it. I am so sorry Dr. Upham has resigned; I liked him so much. There was a decided differencein the resignation letters of Dr. Upham and Dr. Ladd, was'n't there? That was very sad about that boy dropping dead at High School. Ray always reads the home papers that I get; they very seldom send her any. We had a young Episcopalian minister this morning, from a little town three miles from Poughkeepsle: he preached the most halt- ing sermon I have ever heard. I suppose he was embarrassed. He preached without notes, and in almost every sentence he would repeat part of it, or change the form of it, or begin with a verb in the active voice andthen stop and begin over with it in the passive. Once he tried to quote one of the beatitudes and he got it all tangled up with other verses and finally had to give it up, by saying "Oh, you know what beatitude I mean." It was very painful; everybody was nervous for fear he would break down altogether. Yesterday we celebrated Valentine's Day: all the senior tables were decorated with red paper hearts suspended above them, and red candles on them. Then Prof. Moore's little girl, about five years old carried around to the various Senior tables a basket full of valentines, and left at each table the bundle that belonged there. Irene Lawrence, who was chairman of the committee guided her around. Irene is an awfully nice girl: the more I see of her the better I like her. I got six valentines - some of them were very good. I wrote only two this year, I wanted to write more but I had too much else on hand. We had to write a German Sssay for tomorrow, and that took a good deal more time than an ordi- nary lesson. Beside that, I have to take charge of Civitas Club tomorrow night, and for that I have to read up about the Fabian Society. We have a queer thing to do for History tomorrow: that is, to find out all the rigmarole which«we-would have to be gone through with in order to get ourselves appointed postmistress of the town in whichwe live. I can not find out much about it from any books that I have consulted yet. It takes so long to look for things when you don*t know what to look for. That history course, though, is far the most interesting history course that I have had- I am so glad I elected it. We are studying the Constitution now- Pretty soon we shall be having the history of political parties in the U.S. Then I shall learn why I am a Republican, or else perhaps I shall turn Democrat.* Miss Salmon is such a fine woman: She gave us the most interesting talk last Monday onthe "Relation of the teacher to the Community"- X mean by "us" a pedagogical club which one of the girls in our class has just started up: its members consist of the girls who expect to teach next year, and the various professors are going to talk to us, about once a week, on subjects interesting and valuable to teachers. The substance of Miss Salmon's remarks was that the teacher should be intimately associated with the life of the community; that the community needed the teacher and the teacher needed the community. She believes that the very best place for a fresh college graduate to teach in is a very small town. She says that college graduateshave usually had the best advantages all their lives, and have always been absorbing, like a sponge, all that is good- but that when they graduate it is time they began to give out, and, like a sponge, they will give out most when there is the most pressure. Therefore she thinks that a very small town, where will bring out all there is in a teacher, and make her establish independence of ideas and methods, because there will be the most need for decision and ingenuity, and most will be demanded of a teacher, in all directions in which she can help a community. Miss Salmon said that a teacher should be the most unselfish person on earth. She can well say it, for she practices what she preaches.So I suppose I had better be looking around for my small town! I must go to bed now, for it is time for the hell. So farewell Love to all, Adelaide. jClafLinj February 14. 1897. Show less

Vassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, Easter. March 25. ,1894, My dear Mamma,-— This has not been a beautiful Easter day, so far as the weather goes, for it has been raining steadily since noon. We walked into town to church, as there are no services here during vacation. I enjoyed the service very much, a simple, practical sermon, and beautiful music. It seems so much more like civiliza- tion to go into town to church, than to have it over in the chapel, with nothing but girls. It seems strange,... Show moreVassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, Easter. March 25. ,1894, My dear Mamma,-— This has not been a beautiful Easter day, so far as the weather goes, for it has been raining steadily since noon. We walked into town to church, as there are no services here during vacation. I enjoyed the service very much, a simple, practical sermon, and beautiful music. It seems so much more like civiliza- tion to go into town to church, than to have it over in the chapel, with nothing but girls. It seems strange, now, towear a hat and gloves in church. After church was out, since the service was longer than usual, we thought it was too late for a car to come out to the college. So Hope Traver and I walked out, but the rest waited, and in the course of half an hour or so got a car, but we reached the college before they did, and we were no wetter either. Now that the winter snow has melted and the ground has once dried, there is no more such dreadful walking, and when it rains there is only an ordinary amount of mud, so that we shall not be obliged to squander ten cents on the railroad company any more. Yesterday afternoon we went up in the gymnasium building where there is a tennis court, and played tennis. That is, we tried to, for two knew how to play a little, and the other three of us did not know how at all. It was lots of fun, but it mademy right arm sore a little. I conclude that it has not had enough exercise. I shall have to have some practice with it at sweeping, when I get home. Did I tell you that I had my second physical examination in the gymnasium? My back and legs are quite a little stronger, and every thing else has improved except my right hand, which has decreased. The director told me I came when^that my back was my weakest part. Strength tests are no indica- tion of health, for the second strongest girl in our class is sick a good deal, and does not look strong. We have to go over to the college for our meals now. Some of the girls think it is nice to see the rest of the people then. This morn- ing for the first time this year I slept until the breakfast bell. I woke up as usual about six, but as I had a little headache I dropped to sleep again, and when the breakfast bell woke me ateight (the hour for breakfast Sunday) I Jumped up and dressed in five minutes. Tonight after tea Miss McCaleb asked some of us to come to the Senior Parlor and sing hymns and we had quite a homelike time there. About a dozen of the Faculty are staying here during the vacation. They give us nicer things to eat during vacation, and cream quite often. The mall is not distributed now, so we have to stand in a line and wait for it twice a day. Each girl generally gets the mail for eight or ten others too. I am much obliged for the letters you sent, and will send them on to Uncle Charles. There is a girl here who lives in Waverley, and knows Uncle Edward Tracy very well. She is a great friend of the Fishes who live next door to him. The girl is a Freshman and I know her pretty well. I am not lonesome, not so much so as I am sometimes when everybody is here, and I find I can get lots of things done. My love to all, Your Loving daughter Adelaide. (Claflin, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

January 14, 1894

Text

Vassar College. January 14t 1894. My dear mamma,- I am so glad it is Sunday and I have time to rest; a good deal has been going on this week, that is in our work. W e have happened to have long lessons in everything all the week, and an essay to write at the end. Ray and I stayed up Friday night to begin our essays, and spent all of Saturday morning on them too. For our essays we were given six general subjects from which to choose: Madame De Sevigne's Letters, The Connotative Power of... Show moreVassar College. January 14t 1894. My dear mamma,- I am so glad it is Sunday and I have time to rest; a good deal has been going on this week, that is in our work. W e have happened to have long lessons in everything all the week, and an essay to write at the end. Ray and I stayed up Friday night to begin our essays, and spent all of Saturday morning on them too. For our essays we were given six general subjects from which to choose: Madame De Sevigne's Letters, The Connotative Power of Words, The Salvation Army,Jane Eyre, An Old Testament Story, and a Fairy Story. Ray's is about the "Fearlessness of Jane Eyre", and mine is about Nebuchadnezzar. Our essays are corrected and talked about so much more than we were used to at home. They are all carefully corrected in red ink, and then each girl has a private interview with the teacher about hers. I don't mind an interview with Miss Nettleton at all. I am not as much afraid of her then as I am in class. I like her pretty well, anyway, better than I did at first. She was in Cleveland during the Christmas vacation, visiting Miss Perry. The day Ray went out to the College for lunch she sat at the same table with her. There was a lecture on Friday night by Prof. Sedgwick of the Mass. Institute of Technology, on "Bacteriology". Ray and I stayed home from it on account of our essays, but the girls said it was very interestingindeed. Someway it always happens that the ones Ray and I do not go to are always the most interesting- Last night the Sophomores gave the Freshmen a party. It is customary for them to give it early in the year; but for one reason or another it has been postponed until now. There was a short address of welcome by the Freshman President, and songs by the Sophomore and Freshman Glee Clubs. Each Sophomore escorted a Freshman — and some of them had to take two- That is the way they always do at such things, in the absence of gentlemen- There were ten dances and the programs of the Freshmen were made out before- hand by the Sophomores- Of course those who did not wish to dance could walk, or sit on the couches and cushions around the edge of the room. I got acquainted with several girls that I did not know before, and I had a very good time. It is the most formal occasion that there is without visitors from outside. I wore my white silk. This morning Bishop Foss of Philadelphia, preached. He is Methodist, you know- He preached as if he took it for granted that we were all infidels, but still he was pretty good. For some reason or other, we don't get any practical sermons here. The ministers that come, all seem to think that because it is a special occasion for them, it is a special occasion for us, and that they must preach a different kind of a sermon to us from what they would to their own congregations - There are two Jewesses here who room on the floor above us- They will never eat ham, and we have it quite often, and they never study on Saturday, but always on Sunday. They are lovely girls, though- nicer than any Jews I ever saw before. Today I heard a good story about a Freshman. You know the Volunteer Mission Band holds a meeting every Sunday afternoon. The first part of the year, oneof the year, one of the upper classmen invited this Freshman to go to the Volunteer Band with her. The Freshman hesitated and then refused to go, saying that she "didn't believe in going to hear bands play on Sunday." Tonight there is an address on "Woman's Work in Hindoo Homes", by Mrs- Water bury- a missionary to India. I forgot to tell you that I wrote to Mrs. Sheldon the first part of Christmas vacation, before I got the letter of hers. Our room looks much prettier than it did before, and every body admires our new things. I am only afraid that you robbed yourselves, and cannot well spare some of the things. We are having very good weather, now, not very cold, and very little snow. I hope you are having a mild winter too, It is so much more convenient- Lovingly your Adelaide. (Claflin Show less

Creator

Mansfield-Claflin, Adelaide

Date

March 3, 1895

Text

Vassar College. March 3. 1895. My dear Papa,- I have just used up my last sheet of writing paper, so I will write on my pad for a while. I must tell you the first thing that the money came all right, and on good time, Thursday - and I paid the bill immediately. I am very much obliged for the extra "change", too. It fills up my pocketbook quite nicely. It has been a beautiful day today - very sunshiny - a contrast to yesterday and the day before, when it snowedall day. But yet I was... Show moreVassar College. March 3. 1895. My dear Papa,- I have just used up my last sheet of writing paper, so I will write on my pad for a while. I must tell you the first thing that the money came all right, and on good time, Thursday - and I paid the bill immediately. I am very much obliged for the extra "change", too. It fills up my pocketbook quite nicely. It has been a beautiful day today - very sunshiny - a contrast to yesterday and the day before, when it snowedall day. But yet I was glad to see the snow, for the old snow had grown rather dirty and hard. The snow does not disappear entirely here, the way It does at home, before spring- From the first snowfall to the last the ground keeps covered all over. Ray and Carrie and I went to town together to the Presbyterian Church - Belle stayed at home with a headache. Carrie is a Presbyterian, and so we usually go all together to that church- The minister Dr.Wheeler, has been the pastor of it for about fifty years, I think, and he is a very old man. There is a young assistant, but Dr. Wheeler almost always preaches-r. Taylor is sick- has been for two or three days- there seems to be a good deal of the grippe about- There are-were two sisters here named Hill, and a cousin by the same name. One of the sisters was sick in the Infirmary with the grippe, and as she had been sick a great deal this year, her mother came here to take her home. But as soon as her mother reached here she caught the grippe, and was put in the Infirmary too. At the same time the cousin was In there with the grippe. The Infirmary only holds four, —(except the wing and the contagion room).The other Hill sister at the same time had a cold, and Mrs. Kendrick told her not to dare to let it develop into the grippe, for they could not afford to give the Infirmary up entirely to the Hills!" Tomorrow night the President is going to announce the honors- given to the girls in the Senior class- so when I write next week who they are, you can find their names in the Catalogue which I mailed home yester- day- I had forgotten that I had not sent one home, till Lou mentioned it in her last letter. I am glad Clarence has a guitar - I shall expect him to play me some nice tunes when I come home. Lovingly Adelaide. (Claflin) Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

January 26, 1896

Text

assar College, Jan. 26. 1896. My dear I*ou,— As it is your birthday tomorrow* I am going to write to you this week. Out of your teens.1 How old you are getting! I did not use to want to grow older. I used to want to stay a child, but now I would rather grow, so as to be of some use. Ed. asked me this week when the next birthday in the family was, so that he might celebrate it by writing, and when I read it, some- how I never thought of yours at all, but said to myself, "Well, there&apos... Show moreassar College, Jan. 26. 1896. My dear I*ou,— As it is your birthday tomorrow* I am going to write to you this week. Out of your teens.1 How old you are getting! I did not use to want to grow older. I used to want to stay a child, but now I would rather grow, so as to be of some use. Ed. asked me this week when the next birthday in the family was, so that he might celebrate it by writing, and when I read it, some- how I never thought of yours at all, but said to myself, "Well, there's no hurry about that. He'll haveto wait till Feb. 26." So it is my fault that you don't get a birthday letter from him. We are all thinking about exams, now, - they come this week- I have two tomorrow, and one each day following - finishing up Friday afternoon. I*ots of girls are studying for them today: I am glad I feel free to take Sunday for a rest, instead of feeling as if I ought to study seven days in the week. I came near making myself unable to take exams, this week, by a little escapade la the gymnasium Friday afternoon. Gertrude Smith and I were working at a piece of apparatus without a padded mat under us - which we are supposed never to do- I was hanging by my hands -fewo-with my feet out behind me aadtwo or three feet above the ground when I lost my grip aad fell on the hard wood floor, my nose receiving most of my weight, against the floor. Everybody who saw me fall thought I was killed aad came running up, but I sat up instantly and told them there was nothing the matter with me* My nose bled a little and swelled a great deal, and the gym. teacher was afraid it was broken, but the doctor said it was not. They made me hold water to it, as hot as I could stand, for more than half an hour, to reduce the swelling and prevent it from turning black and blue. This remedy was very effectual, in fact too effectual, for the water which I held to my forehead wasso hot as to produce two blisters there. My nose is all right now - it has stopped hurting. The gym. teacher, before she attended to me, turned around to the other girls and said, "Now this will be a warning to all of you never to do this without a mat." Last night the officers of the Christian Association were nomi- nated. A committee of twelve were appointed by the Executive Board to name five people for President, and there were to be reduced to two by the Association - For the other officers two girls apiece were selected by the committee. I was one of the five chosen by the committee, but not one of the two selected from them by the Association. I am greatly relieved, for there is more work and responsibility tothe position of President of the Christian Association than to any other position in college. Especially while the Windsor is part of the college. The two girls who are candi- dates are Mary Dunning and Jessie Thain- I hope Mary will get it, for she is a lovely girl, aad has a great deal to her. She rooms next door to me. Ray 1s one of the two candidates for Vice-president- I rather think she will get it, for the other girl is not especially suited for that position. That is all the officers who are chosen from our class- The elections take place in about a week. I have been doing some work for Professor Moulton on the Hektograph- You know that is the thingwith which one sheet of writing is copied off on to & lot of other sheets, it is always written in violet- colored ink- The ink is very hard to write with, for it is sticky and does pan not £low easily, but the hektcgraph is easy to work. It is just a plato of very stiff gelatine stuff, which has had the writing taken off on it, and then you just take the clean sheets of paper and lay them on straight and take them right off again. I am going to do it between exams, as much as I can spare time. Some day this week I will send you "Seebohm's Era of the Pro- testant revolution"- for you will need it for history of the Reformation - It is a very useful book. The weather has been rainy for the last few days, so that the skating has been spoiled. I hopeit will freeze again soon- Last week some of the girls, led by Prof. Wentworth and Prof. French, played "shinny" on the ice, every day- It was lots of fun to watch them, but we had hard work to keep out of their way sometimes- Miss Epler asked me to go skating for a half an hour before breakfast the other morning- so that we had to get up in the dark, but when we got up we found it was raining- Iwas rather glad. That was very sad about Mr. Harris* little girl. I think it was mean not to let him see her. Give my love to the girls at college. Love to all the family toe. Your loving sister Adelaide. (over)Just as I was addressing the envelope, I heard somebody in the corridor say "there is a fire down in Ray Schauffler's room" I had just come up about five minutes before, leaving her on her bed, sol wondered what she could !iave been doing- She had got up to write a letter, and after she lit the gas she threw the match in the wastebasket. The wastebasket biased up and she took it up and carried it into her bedroom where there were two loose rugs, and covered it, and then put water on and called the girl next door to help her, and so they easily put it out without spoiling anything else- The maid who was watching the corridor discovered it immediately on account of the smoke, which filled the corridor- I guess Ray will get something else to throw her matches in- Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

March 10, 1895

Text

Vassar College. March 10. 1895. My dear Mamma, — Here I am sitting on my bed in my pink flannel nightgown and bed-slippers- just as I study every evening. It is just time for the total eclipse of the moon to begin, so I suppose I shall be leaving this letter often to go and look at it. It is so clear that it can be seen beauti- fully. We are glad that the moon is on our side of the house, or rather, that we live on the side of the house where themoon is. This morning Dr. Twitchell of Hartford... Show moreVassar College. March 10. 1895. My dear Mamma, — Here I am sitting on my bed in my pink flannel nightgown and bed-slippers- just as I study every evening. It is just time for the total eclipse of the moon to begin, so I suppose I shall be leaving this letter often to go and look at it. It is so clear that it can be seen beauti- fully. We are glad that the moon is on our side of the house, or rather, that we live on the side of the house where themoon is. This morning Dr. Twitchell of Hartford preached - a Congre- gationalism I believe. I think I have read articles of his in the religious newspapers. Dr. Taylor has had the grippe, was kept in his rooms for several days. On this account they could not have the Faculty meeting to name the honor girls. This will be done tomorrow. A number of the teachers have had the grippe- Miss Gentry was almost dangerously ill with it, and is still in the Infirrnary- We had quite a time in our room yesterday - which was Ray's birthday- Only nineteen, not so old as Lou,Carrie and Belle and I tried to think up something new for a celebration, and we decided on having a supper in our room, of things made entirely by ourselves, instead of going down to dinner. A good many girls heard of it and seemed to think it was a very strange and daring thing to do, but it was quite easily done. Of course everything had to be done in the evening, for the gas is not turned on in the day time. So we got Ellen Hailey, who lives at one of the cottages, to invite her over to spend the night Friday- Friday evening we cooked some of the things, and the rest we did at supper time yesterday- and hadquite a sumptuous repast. First course- poached eggs on toast, creamed fried potatoes, (which means milked ones) bread and butter and chocolate. Second course, potato salad with mayonnaise dressing. Third course, Floating Island. Carrie does not know anything about cooking, but Belle is a splendid cook. She knows everything about housekeeping and sewing and so on. You ought to have seen us Friday evening, Carrie sewing on her gingham chemistry apron, Belle beating eggs with a fork, and me paring potatoes- Rather a domestic scene for a Vassar College room, you might say. It was lots of fun- We had a good deal of difficulty in keeping Ray fromseeing things, for It was all a surprise for her. We had to store the things in other girls' rooms- Such a supper is not very expensive, as we can have all the bread and butter and milk free, that we want, and potatoes are cheap. The man in the store looked somewhat surprised when I asked him for a quart of potatoes. Ray's friends were very good about remembering her birthday- Her bundle from home did not come yesterday, but she got word that it was on its way- Her brother Fritz and her cousin Rob in New York sent her a box of Huyler's candy- all done up in numerous layers of paper etc. Belle says it costs a dollar a pound. Ithink it is dreadful to eat up candy at a dollar a pound. The moon is almost entirely eclipsed now, which means that it is ten o'clock, and time to go to bed. The weeks are going by very fast now, less than three weeks to spring vacation - which begins March 29, and lasts ten days. I think I is told you that Ray's cousin Mrs. Ellison was-going to take her to North Carolina for spring vacation, where Harry is, in Turnpike, near Asheville. Carrie's sister in Rye Seminary has her spring vacation commence on the day that ours closes* so that they cannot go to Boston together. So probably Carrie will stay here with me, and we will enjoy it. Love to all - Adelaide. (Claflin) Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

April 27, 1895

Text

April 27, 1895, My own dear Mother,— I am going to write to you tonight, so that the letter will reach you on your birthday. I will delegate Bess to give you my birth- day kiss, along with her fifty nine which I suppose she will give you. How nice it would be if I could hire a flying-machine on each of your birthdays.' — and some other days too. I send by this same mail a dishcloth which I knit for you in my spare moments, thinking it would be a useful if not an ormamental gift. At any... Show moreApril 27, 1895, My own dear Mother,— I am going to write to you tonight, so that the letter will reach you on your birthday. I will delegate Bess to give you my birth- day kiss, along with her fifty nine which I suppose she will give you. How nice it would be if I could hire a flying-machine on each of your birthdays.' — and some other days too. I send by this same mail a dishcloth which I knit for you in my spare moments, thinking it would be a useful if not an ormamental gift. At any rate, if you don't wish to use it, let it ornament the kitchen. Today is Founder's Day, and therefore a holiday, though really it is not so much of a holiday for me, because I have only two recitations on that day anyway- Still I appreciate the difference, decidedly. This has been a much nicer celebration then that of last year. The aim this year was to have the day of interest to the students as much as possible, and as much as possible to really take us back to the days of the Founder. For several years we have had some famous (more or less) lecturer to address us in the evening, on some more or less interesting subject which had no connec- tion at all with our college or any college. But this year we had exercises at four oclock in the afternoon, so that outside guests need not come to it if they did not want to, though a good many did come. Theprogramme opened with an organ voluntary by Prof. Bowman, who is the head of the musical department, then a college song in which we all joined. Then Katharine Reiley - the president of the Students Association, made an address on Student Life at Vassar. She made a very fine appearance and delivered her address very well - without notes- She is a very clever girl - I might say woman, for she is very dignified. Alter this we sang a song which was written for the occasion - by competition - by Miss Doughty, one of Gertrude Bronson's room mates. (By the way Adel- bert Bronson is here, I saw him several times today.) Katharine Reiley read a telegram from a member of the first class that graduated - in 1868.The chief thing of the evening was the address of Prof. Whitney, on "The Founders of Vassar". Miss Whitney is the Astronomy prof lessor. She graduated here in the first class, and has been here ever since, since, as Maria Mitchell's assistant so long as Miss Mitchell lived, and alter that she has beea Professor of Astronomy herself. She is a fine woman, very simple and cultured. Saturday morning- Bedtime came before I could finish my description, so I will resume It now. Miss Whitney's address was fine, interesting reminiscences, and a history of the beginning of the college. She told especially about Dr. Raymond, the first President, Miss Lyman, the first Lady Principal, and Miss Maria Mitchell. I think her address was the nicest thingthey could have had for the occasion. The chapel looks very pretty on such occasions. All the girls who have guests sit downstairs in the chapel, and the rest of us in the gallery (where we can watch the people very easily). The afternoon exercises were over at half past five. There was no dinner served at dinner time in the dining room, as it was filled with little tables for the evening refreshments. But we were provided for, for at lunch they brought on platters and plates full of things from which we helped ourselves, meat, bananas, bread and cake. So we took them upstairs and at suppertime set our little table and had a meal such as we children used to have sometimes around the sewing table.In the evening there was the usual promenade up and down the corridors, in full dress. I did not dress for that because I have had a slight cold this week and I thought it was safer not to take off warm clothes. While the rest were dressing for that, Bella and I went down to the Lecture Room and examined the things in the Loan Exhibition, while the room was not crowded. The Exhibition was very interesting. A great many things that belonged to Matthew Vassar, were there, furniture, personal belongings, and a good many pictures of him- Some old daguerrotypes included, and a good many letters of his to various people connected with the college. There ware also mementoes and pictures of Maria Mitchell. Beside these things about particular persons there ware photographs, letters,autograph albums, class pins, programmes and all such things, of some of the earliest classes, and old catalogues. Two of the historic bootjacks which ware placed in each room when the college was opened, by the kindness and fore- thought of Matthew Vassar, were interesting objects. I think this collection was especially interesting to the alumnae who were here. A great many of the guests are staying over for today. This morning at eleven o'clock the Glee Club sang informally in the Chapel for an hour or so, and everybody always likes to hear them. Well, I guess you have heard enough about Founder's. O I almost forgot, in my interest about Founder's, to tell you some- thing else which is of some interest, and that is that I am goingto room with Ray and Carrie in a parlor next year. We drew for rooms on Tuesday, and I tried to get a single, to room alone, but I drew a blank, which means that I could not get one, so I drew next for a parlor with Carrie and Ray. We were all unfortunate in our drawing, so that we finally got the very last choice for parlors in our class. For this reason we consoled ourselves with the thought that at least we would not have to spend time in selecting our room, for we simply had to take the only one that was left. But it is not a bad room, in fact it is a very good one, and our next door neighbors are going to be some of our best friends. The best thing about the room is that it is a south one, where we will have the sun all day. The roomis on the first floor, so that it will be convenient in many respects. I wanted very much to have a single room, for some reasons. I would like to try one because I have never roomed in a room alone, and there is not much privacy in rooming with several others. Still it is lots of fun, and I enjoy it ever so much, in a firewall, and in some ways it is very convenient to have some roommates. So I am going in that way next year, and look forward to having a single room in my Senior year. Of course Ray and Carrie and I will be very happy together, and we are very congenial. On general principle I think it is better for the same girls not to room together for threeconsecutive years, but Ray and I could not help it this time. Before I forget it I will tell you that- I used a dose of my cold pills this week, and gave another dose to a girl who was coming down with a cold, so that I have no more. I like to have something on hand ready for use In case I need it, so if you have any cold powders in the house you might put one in your next letter. I used some of my cough-pills too, but I still have a few of them left. Bessie's and Lou's old letter did come this week. When I first saw the date March 24, I thought it was simply a slip of the pen, as the letter was mailed April 24. But when I read the news about things that I knew happened about a month ago I changed my mind.I thought perhaps it was a sort of April Fool arrived late till I noticed the outside at the envelope, which bore marks of having been in a man's pocket for about a month, being creased and dirty. So I accepted that as the solution. I wish we had as warm weather here as you write about. There have been only two or three days when I could stay outdoors long without a wrap, I still have on my warm clothes, though shirtwaists are pretty generally worn now. Spring is slower than usual even here, where it is always slower than at home, I hope I can put an shirtwaists pretty soon- I think I prefer the changeable weather of home to the long steady winters of this climate, where you say goodbye to the grass and anything like warm weather, in November, and don't expect a suggestionof them again till April. Give my love to the neighbors and friends- and I send lots especially to you for your birthday- Your loving daughter Adelaide, (Claflin) Vassar College. April 27. 1895.Perhaps this will be my week letter, so that you will not be looking for one Tuesday. Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

April 21, 1895

Text

My dear Mother, - One more week has flown by- They are busy ones now, and so they go more quickly- especially the Saturdays and Sundays, to which we look forward. We always expect to do so much on Saturday, and then, somehow, when the day is gone, it seems as If we had done so little. Aad Sunday too, when it is gone, seems so short. Today we went to town to church, because the minister who was to have preached did not come. It was such a pleasant day that we walked in - I walked in to town... Show moreMy dear Mother, - One more week has flown by- They are busy ones now, and so they go more quickly- especially the Saturdays and Sundays, to which we look forward. We always expect to do so much on Saturday, and then, somehow, when the day is gone, it seems as If we had done so little. Aad Sunday too, when it is gone, seems so short. Today we went to town to church, because the minister who was to have preached did not come. It was such a pleasant day that we walked in - I walked in to town yesterday too, with Belle, as she wished me to help her select a hat. They are begin- ning to wear straw hats now. The new dresses are appearing these pleasant days, and the sleeves, well- they are so inflated that if they grow any larger they will burst. Tell Edfe that if she makes a new dress she will have to remember the rule for sweetening canned pie-plant. "Put as much cloth into the sleeves as your conscience will allow, then turn away your head and put some more in." Most of the sleeves are lined with fiber chamois too, which keeps them very stiff and rattling. And the fiber chamois in the skirt reaches half way up the back. It looks like yellow wrapping-paper. I am glad the skirts are made perfectly plain - I guess the attempt to introduce drapery has been given up. But box plaits, box plaits, box plaits in the waist! I put my name down to stayhere for Commencement this year. The girls told of having such fun at Commencement that I concluded it would be pleasant to stay- Class-Day is a great occasion. Anna Graham - of Cleveland - is going to be Prophet of her class then. The Juniors have been selecting their rooms for next year, in the last two days. It is a time of great excitement, for there Is such a difference in the desirability of the rooms. They draw in this way: Mrs. Kendrick puts a lot of little blocks of wood, each with a number on it, into her little black handbag. Then the girls pass in front of her, each "putting in a thumb and pulling out a plum"- Then whoever has drawn no. 1. has first choice of rooms in the building. No. 2 second choice and so on. More and more girls every year seem to want single rooms, so that there is greatemand for them, and the girls near the end have only poor ones to choose from. And as for the rest of the classes, they have only a few left apiece^ and a great many of the girls who want them cannot have them. Probably sixty girls in our class will want singles and only about twenty singles will probably be at our disposal. I want to get a single room myself if I can, if I cannot probably Ray and Carrie and I will room together in a parlor. Otherwise Ray and Carrie will room together In a double. I think it is not the best thing for the same two girls to room together next year U we can help it, though of course we should be very happy if we did- We shall probably draw for roomstomorrow, and have our rooms all selected by the next day or two. Belle is not coming beck next year, because she can not afford to. She did not know of the possibility till just lately, and it was not settled till Easter vacation, I am so sorry she has to stop now, for the two hardest years only, are passed, and the two pleasantest are to come. Belle's mother needs her too, I think, for she is sick most of the time, and is at home alone. The only other members of the family are Belle's two brothers who are in other towns. Belle has been away to boarding school for a good many years, so that I should think her mother had not seen much of her. Mary writes that she is making plans on the supposition thatshe is coming back next year - but I do not believe she will come back. She is not as well as she was when she was here. Her mother has been in Princeton for ten or twelve weeks, where Mary's brother has been very sick with typhoid fever, so that Mary has herself and the house to take care of, and her little sister and her sick aunt. She is having the housecleaning done now and is seeing to having the whole house papered. There is nothing like her ambition. Kate Dunham has selected a single room - a very pretty little one - though it is little. She does not appear to be very anxious to come back next year. I think she would have been just as happy at home, though she likes it well enough here. I like it more and more the longer I stay here, that is, Igrow more attached to it. And we are beginning to have the professors now, instead of just teachers. There are so many things that I would like to study next year, that I am having some difficulty in deciding on my electives- The Seniors are beginning to feel sorry about leaving - they have only a few weeks more of college. Mr. Thompson - ("Uncle Fred" as the girls call him) gave the Seniors each a spoon last night, as he does every year. The spoons are rather larger than teaspoons, and are very heavy - quite a nice thing to keep- Give my love to the neighbors - I am glad Etta is well. I am relieved that the Kendricks are settled in their house at last, and did not have any more fuss. Lovingly Adelaide. (Claflin} Vassar College. April 21, 1895. Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

March 27, 1894

Text

Vassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, May 27, 1894. My dear Mamma,— Your letter came this week by the Saturday night mail, as it has two or three times lately, though I never used to get anything by that mail. I am so sorry to hear that Mr. Adams is still very sick. It is too bad that one family should have so much sickness. It is strange, too, that Dr. Mears1 family are sick so much. I wonder what the reason is. You say that Miss Bushnell, I mean Mrs. Abbott, as I learn from your last letter that... Show moreVassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, May 27, 1894. My dear Mamma,— Your letter came this week by the Saturday night mail, as it has two or three times lately, though I never used to get anything by that mail. I am so sorry to hear that Mr. Adams is still very sick. It is too bad that one family should have so much sickness. It is strange, too, that Dr. Mears1 family are sick so much. I wonder what the reason is. You say that Miss Bushnell, I mean Mrs. Abbott, as I learn from your last letter that that is her name, is going to live in Hendersonville. Where in the world is that? How soon she is going there? The weather is perfect today. We appreciate it so much becauseit poured day and night for a week. It just cleared off yester- day afternoon and today the sky is entirely blue, and the sun shining brightly. It is much warmer too so that we can leave off the winter dresses we have been wearing for a week. There are more flowers in the garden now, and in some places the grass is thick with butter- cups. The daisies have just come, but they say that pretty soon they will be as plenty as grass. It seems so queer to have such an abun- dance of flowers. I keep wishing you could have some of them at home, especially for Edie's sake. Today's was the last college church service I shall go to for some time* Next Sunday is the first Sunday in the month, so that we shall go to town to church. Dr. Holmes, a Presbyterian minister of Buffalo preached today. Gertrude Smith and I finished reading "Paradise Lost" today. I am very glad I have read it. We began after Spring Vacation and haveread a Book or two of it every week since. I have not done very much reading this year outside of what we have had to do for English, though I have spent all the time I could spare, in the Reading Room, reading the magazines- It is a great thing to have them all within your reach at any time. By the way if Ed has the other college maga- zines within his reach, tell him to read an article in the Nassau Literary Monthly (the Princeton paper) by J. Mcready Sykes on the "Reasons for the Further and Complete Subjugation of Women". It has been the laughing-stock here lately. The flaws in some of his arguments are really ridiculous. We had lemon ice for dessert today- It was remarkable for wehave been having peanuts and maple sugar for dessert on Sunday for some time. But as every vacation draws near, they give us extra good things to eat, I suppose so that the girls will not complain about the food when they go home. The day before Commencement they are going to have a regular banquet for everybody that is here, and the alumnae too. At that time they are going to have strawberries and cream, as a great luxury, for they never have them except then. This week Tuesday is the beginning of the Senior vacation, which lasts until Baccalaureate Sunday. Yesterday afternoon the Senior Class had its picture taken on the steps of this building, just where we had ours. It is right under our window so we had the full benefit. Last night the Sophomore class chose its Class Tree, beneath which they will bury their records when they graduate. They had a great celebration over it. All dressed as country people, inthe oldest clothes they could get, and some of them with their gingham chemistry aprons, and all of them with big green hats just alike. They went around the yard giving their yell, and had a sort of country sociable in the gymnasium afterwards with old fashioned country dances- They said they had the most fun of any time since they have been here. Bedtime now. With lots of love Adelaide. gClaflin, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

December 5, 1893

Text

Vassar College, Dec. 5, 1893 My dear mamma, I have a special reason to write this time, Hortense Lewis, or Hort, as everybody calls her, has invited me to go home with her at Christmas. She lives in Mount Vernon, a suburb of New York city, where several other girls with whom I am well acquainted, live too. She says she is very anxious to have me, and wants me to-rewrite and ask you right off. You see she was at home Thanksgiving, and arranged it then. She is a rather queer girl in some ways,... Show moreVassar College, Dec. 5, 1893 My dear mamma, I have a special reason to write this time, Hortense Lewis, or Hort, as everybody calls her, has invited me to go home with her at Christmas. She lives in Mount Vernon, a suburb of New York city, where several other girls with whom I am well acquainted, live too. She says she is very anxious to have me, and wants me to-rewrite and ask you right off. You see she was at home Thanksgiving, and arranged it then. She is a rather queer girl in some ways, sort of helter-skelter, but she is really very nice, and I like her. From the other girls I found out about her family, and they say her family is lovely, her father,her stepmother, who is as nice as she can be, and two little sisters. The fare to New York, one way, is-about $ 1.50, but the girls generally go down on what they call family tickets, for $ 1.00. That is, some girl buys fifty, and sells them to the other girls, because in that way you can get them for a dollar. The other girls say I would have a lovely time at Hort's. I think I would enjoy myself If I stayed here, too, judging from the Thanksgiving vacation. During this vacation I found time to do a good many little things that have needed to be done for some time, in the way of darning and mending and washing my hair, and then I spent three mornings in studying American history, and besides that I went to town, visited around among the girls, went to the President's recep- tion, and ate the Thanksgiving dinner. There wouldn't be nearly as many girls here at Christmas though. They say there are only from twenty to forty girls who stay at college for Christmas. Every letter I get has in it something like this: "How nice it will be when you come home Christmas? Of course you are coming home then, aren't you? " It is rather funny. Ray's father said in his last letter, that it was certain that she could come home for Christmas. Of course she will come over to see you. She got back from Brooklyn yesterday noon, and said she had had a beautiful time. Her brother was there, and several cousins. One of her cousins brought her the prettiest calendar for next year. It will be quite an addition to our room. The comforter and shawl came yesterday afternoon. Thank you for them ever so much. I needed the comforter last night. It is quite cold here. The ground has been covered with a few inches of snow for several days, and it is snowing quite hard now. The lake is all frozen over too, so that it seems quite like winter. I am afraid you will need the shawl at home. I know they were always wanted. But it will be by no means wasted here. In fact I have been wishing for a long time that I had one. They can be used so much here. You see shawls of every kind, color and description on everyoccasion. They are so convenient to wear over to class when you are in a hurry. I wouldn't be without my red cap for any thing. I only need to wear my blue hat to town. I wore my red velvet once to church on a bright Sunday. Perhaps I shall need it if I go to New York. Every one now is talking about Phil, now "(as they call the recep- tion of the Philalethean Society). It comes on Friday night. There is something in the way of exercises in the chapel at half past seven, after that eight promenades, ten minutes long. They won't allow round dancing with men at all, here, and square dances are not popular, so they just have promenades, and we will walk up & down in the Hall of Casts. They are going to have refreshments, but they charge fifty cents for them to all who are not members of the society, and so I didn't put my name down, because I don't want to spend fifty cents just for something to eat. I will wear my white silk. We have just heard that Miss Richardson is anxious to have usfinish geometry before Christmas, so that we shall have more studying than usual to do, I would like so much to get a little time to make Christmas presents, but I am very much afraid I won't. Wed. morning. I have been writing this letter at intervals ever since yesterday, but have been interrupted about half a dozen times, sol must send it off now, even though it is not finished. Edie's letter came yesterday. I do not need to use the medicine now, I am glad to say. I have not yet had the least sign of a cold. The snow is now six or eight inches deep* It snowed off and on for a few days, and steadily and hard all day long yesterday. Your loving daughter Adelaide. Claflin, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

April 26, 1896

Text

Vassar College. April 26. 1896. My dear Mother,— Today I write your birthday letter, to wish you a very happy sixtieth birthday, and a happy year to follow. How I should like to be at home to celebrate it- This is the last birthday before I get home. We are having such beautiful weather now—we want to be out- of-doors all the time - but there is so much that keeps us indoors. Ray and I have taken a membership in a Wheel Club - which means that we each rent a wheel for an hour three timesa... Show moreVassar College. April 26. 1896. My dear Mother,— Today I write your birthday letter, to wish you a very happy sixtieth birthday, and a happy year to follow. How I should like to be at home to celebrate it- This is the last birthday before I get home. We are having such beautiful weather now—we want to be out- of-doors all the time - but there is so much that keeps us indoors. Ray and I have taken a membership in a Wheel Club - which means that we each rent a wheel for an hour three timesa week, at the rate of seventy- five cents a month. I think I can learn to ride, and get seventy-five cents' worth of fun out of it. The wheel has not come yet. We were very much excited yesterday, because our class suf- fered two important defeats,—the first in the afternoon when we lost a match game in basketball with '96, and in the evening, when we lost the debate between T. and M. and Qui Vive. We had no expectation before- hand of winning the debate, because we have practiced debating only this year, while Qui Vive had had practice a year longer— But the game in basketball we had expected to winbecause we have never been beaten but twice in basketball. '96, however, was desperately determined to win. and played the fiercest game I ever saw them play—so that the game was very close indeed, but they finally made a point just before time was called. W e were actually ready to weep, we were so disappointed- As I said before, we did not expect to win in the evening - especially as we had changed leaders three times, and Ray was the only one of the originally appointed debaters left. So of course the girls who finally took our side did not have so much time for prepara- tion as the opposite side had. Ray was the leader on our side, andand the third member on our side was one of the girls who had played basket ball in the afternoon. She was so tired she could hardly deliver her speech- We were rather disappointed in her, for when she is not tired, she is awfully bright and funny. (She, by the way, is the daughter of an actress, but she is an awfully nice girl - Every one likes her so much, and she has so much common sense- Her name is Marie Reimer). Ray's first speech was fifteen minutes long, and was not so good as her final summing up speech, because she was rather scared at first, and she had to try to remember V^what she had written, while her second speech was extemporaneous, consisting mostlyof refutations, and In that she was just as bright and sweet as she could be. She spoke the nicest I have ever heard her speak in public- And some of the things she said were so cute they brought down the house. I dont mean to say her first speech was not good, for it was very good, and very clear and logical. The second girl on our side made a very good speech too, and was especially good at refutation. On the other side the leader was splen- did, the second speaker moderately good, but the third spoke entirely off the point. I think the other side showed more self-possession and ease in speaking, bnt I dont think their arguing was any better than ours, and Ithink our side was far superior to them in refutation. However they were enough better than us to have the judges decide in their favor. The judges were Prof. Mills, and two lawyers from town. Oh I forgot to state the subject of the debate, "Resolved that the foreign policy of the present Administration merits the disapproval of the country"- Our side had the affirmative. They would have been smarter to state the question aff "merits the approval" and then take the negative, for then they would have had the last word- Some of the Faculty thought it should have been decided la favor of '97, but of course we have to rest content that the decision of the judges was the best oae. The only times wehad hopes of winning was after the speakers had finished, and ours had done better than we expected and the opposition had not done so well as we expected. '96 fairly stood on their heads with joy at winning, for it is so seldom that they get ahead of us in anything. Well, I ought to have written first about Proxy's arrival but that has been so crowded out by later events that I was thinking it occurred a week ago. Of course there is a great deal of uncertainty in preparing for the arrival of an ocean steamer, but the committee had things so systemat- ized that they were telegraphed when the steamer was sighted, when the passengers landed, and when Prexy left the Grand Central for Pough- keepsie. The entrance and second corridor were decoratedwith rose and gray cheesecloth, and palms. Down in the entrance there was a big square pyramid of palms—to which Dick Taylor had added a handful of dandelions as his contribution to the floral decorations. Dr. Taylor was to arrive at the college about quarter past five, so at five everybody in college went out and we arranged ourselves in single line up and down each side of the road leading from the lodge to the front entrance, and we extended from the lodge nearly to the door. Then the Faculty and officers were all standing around the door. We waited till we began to fear Prexy was not coming then after all, but about half past five the carriage appeared, and the girls began to yell with oneaccord, "Welcome Prex, Welcome Prex, Vassar, Vassar, Vassar *s Prex!" All the while that the carriage was passing up between the two rows of girls, we kept yelling this, or else, "Rah.1 Rah! Rah! V-A-S-S-A-R. Prexy!" ——(prolonged) Then we all fell in behind the carriage and followed it up to the door, where we stood and listened while Prexy spoke a few words, telling how glad he was to get back, and how much he appreciated our hearty welcome. Then in the evening we had a reception arranged for the poor man, who must have been tired out- At this reception we all gathered first in the second corridor, around a platform which had been erected, and we sang a song which had been written for the occasion.Then the President of the Students9 Association made a short speech of welcome, followed by Prexy, in another speech, not very long, in which he said he was glad to be stand- ing-en* even on that platform, for he had been reeling for the past seven days- It seems they had quite a stormy passage, and he was seasick all the time. He looks a great deal better - aad is very brown. He met a great many friends who were living abroad, who showed him around, and he had a most delightful trip. Noae of the Faculty wrote him a single word about college matters while he was goae, so that his mind would have a complete rest from worrying about things. He says he enjoyed most the trip up the Nile, \in which he spent three weeks- I suppose he will tell us some time in chapel abouthis trip. After his speech Thursday night we all weat and shook hands with him,—after singing another song composed for the occasion. Saturday evening the Feculty gave a reception to Dr. Taylor, so that he had not much chance to rest - the Seniors having given him one on Satur- day afternoon in the Senior parlor. Well, we are all very glad to have him back again. Friday is Founder's Day, and we have a holiday- which means that I will be working all day on special topics— It keeps me busy to do all these things while I am tutoring four times a week. My tutoring will only last two weeks longer, though. I hope the whooping cough next door is vanishing - I thought you would want Ed to come home as soon as he could so I advised him to go.Can't you leave the house-cleaning till I am at home to help? With Edie as poorly as she has been, I do hate to think ol her attacking housecleaning, and you know I like housework. I have such a large part of the year without it that I don't get my share. My love to all the neighbors and friends- Tour own daughter Adelaide. ^Claflinj Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

November 11, 1894

Text

Vassar College. Nov. 25. [1894, My dear Ed.- Your turn for a letter has come last, you see, because you came to see me. Now don't you wish you hadn't? We have been let down, into winter this week. It snowed hard all day Wednesday, and all night, too, I guess, and the ground and trees were covered quite deep- Then it snowed some yesterday and Friday, too, so that we are quite used to it now. Last week girls wore their straw hats still, but this week every body appeared in "tarns... Show moreVassar College. Nov. 25. [1894, My dear Ed.- Your turn for a letter has come last, you see, because you came to see me. Now don't you wish you hadn't? We have been let down, into winter this week. It snowed hard all day Wednesday, and all night, too, I guess, and the ground and trees were covered quite deep- Then it snowed some yesterday and Friday, too, so that we are quite used to it now. Last week girls wore their straw hats still, but this week every body appeared in "tarns" and winter wraps—the winter wraps being long lined capes with hoods atthe back — it seems that they are all the style. My winter jacket is up in my trunk. I shall have to go up and get it pretty scon, for other girls are wearing theirs now. This is rather early for snow here, I think, and isn't it unusually early to have snow in Cleveland? That was a wonderful game of football you had with Oberlin, to judge from the newspaper account I read. No wonder you are all elated over it. I am going to read the Oberlin college paper in the Reading room this week. Was the one named Young on the Oberlin team, Afred Young, who was in our class at High School? Well, the Republicans are all right, aren't they? Though wedon't hear much talk about outside things here as a rule, there was a great deal of Interest in the elections. Miss Macurdy talked about them with more interest than I ever -feoagd- saw her show in anything not connected with Greek. She talked politics at every meal for three weeks beforehand. Every time there is a Presidential campaign, they have a big time here. The girls organize into clubs and parade around the corridors, and put up flaming posters etc. About four- fifths of fee students are Republicans, usually, though a good many of the Faculty are Democrats. Miss Macurdy is a Republican- There is a Presidential Campaign for each class, sometime during its course. Ours will comehen we are Seniors. Sous a* s Band is going to be in Poughkeepsie Thursday evening, K and a good many of the girls are going in to hear them. Freshmen cant go, for Mrs. Kendrick doesn't allow Freshmen to gc to enter- tainments in town in the middle of the week. I was so tired and sleepy when I wrote home last week that I forgot to tell half the things I meant to. So I believe X did not mention the Hallowe'en joke on the Freshmen. Every Hallowe'en the Sophomores play a joke on the Freshmen, and the Juniors one on the Seniors. This year our committee had some long slips of pasteboard printed, just like railroad tickets. They were green on one side, and had four coupons on the bottom, the lowest one"Good for one fresh trip from Freshman Hollow to Mt. Sophomore - the aext "Good for oae hard journey from Mt. Sophonjore to Junior ville, " then 'Good for one soft-snap passage from Juniorville to Senior town," and last one "Good for one first-class passage from Seniortcwn to Alumnae Heights." The coupon iieltet-for the Freshman trip was at half-fare, (not adults)- and on each one it said "Not good if dropped". At the tup were the general rules and regulations of the railroad,-full of grinds - the first being "No stop-overs allowed." "Best procurable conveyance to and from depots, though the -President of the Company regrets his Inability to meet each passenger at the depot. (One of the Freshmen, just before she came, telegraphed to President Taylor to meet herat the depot at such and such a time). 'Trains run to Chapel-Gallery on schedule time-" (The Freshmen sit in the Gallery at chapel this year), etc. The tickets were regularly punched and stamped on the back- One of these the committee put inside each Freshman's napkin at the table, during the afternoon. Of course this was very easy to do, for the napkins are all plainly marked for the laundry- Of course at dinner, when each Freshman opened her napkin, out came a ticket - and then there was lots of fun over it. This week I was called upon to be a murderer - of a centipede. I was sitting on my bed one evening when on the wall beside me I happened to see what I knew must be a centipede. I had often heard the girls talk about them, for they are oftenfound down on the first floor, But they seldom get up as far as this. They are horrible- looking thirds, about an inch and ?\hall long, with about a dozen legs cn each side, and fellers at both cuds. I was glad of a chance to see one, so I sat and looked at it a minute, and then killed it. Did I tell you that Ray is in the choir now, and on the college Glee Club too? It is an awfully nice tiling, though it takes time, for roJiearsals especially - Irene Lawrence - who lives on Wills on Ave. you know - and who had typhoid fever in the summer, came back to college yesterday- She rooms with Cornelia Ranney, on our corridor, just a few doors from us- I don't know what she is going to do about making up her work- If she has to be a special, she canttay in this building- For while it is so crowded, they make the specials live in the cottages and have as many of the regular students as possible in the main buildings- Friday afternoon Belle got a box from home, with some cake, ginger cookies and apples in it- So we had a few girls in for the evening, and we had lots of fun. V/e played crambo, part of the time - Each wrote a question on a piece of paper, then mixed the papers and each wrote a word, then mixed them again and each v/rote a piece of "poetry11 5 answering the question and using the word. I will put in one or two for you- What is the dearest wish of your heart? Fresh. "Fresh for all negative wishes May my Fate say "No".1 May X not wash the dishes.' Let the rest go-" I'll have to obey ihat last line, so goodby- Your loving sister Adelaide. (Claflin,On separate slip: Hallu- What is the use of living ? cination The use of our creation Is not to win ovation Nor yet concatination Of mirth and great elation, You may see no relation In my expatiation. But in my peroration There's no hallucination.What would you most like to be? Faculty. "What should I most like to be? The equal of the Faculty? Nay - my wish is far more deep* I should like to be — asleep. Is the soul immortal? See. No one can a man's soul see So it may immortal be, After death, we know not where- It may roam the upper air- Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

November, 18, 1894

Text

Vassar College. Nov. 18. c1894, My dear Mamma,— W e have just come from Bible Lecture, and I am going to write to you and then go right to bed. We are all so sleepy, even though none of us woke up this morning till after the breakfast-bell. We did not get to sleep last night very early, for we went to the Sophomore party. Every year the Sophomores give a party for the Freshmen. Each Freshman and teacher is taken care of by a sophomore, but as there are more than enough to go around, a good... Show moreVassar College. Nov. 18. c1894, My dear Mamma,— W e have just come from Bible Lecture, and I am going to write to you and then go right to bed. We are all so sleepy, even though none of us woke up this morning till after the breakfast-bell. We did not get to sleep last night very early, for we went to the Sophomore party. Every year the Sophomores give a party for the Freshmen. Each Freshman and teacher is taken care of by a sophomore, but as there are more than enough to go around, a good many of us had to take two. I took two Freshmen, Ray took Miss Macurdy and a friend who is visiting her.ary has had a girl from New York city visiting her since Friday, and so she took her and a Freshman, and Belle took a teacher and a Freshman. There were twelve dances, so it was a good deal of work to make out the programs. You see we did that beforehand, and had to arrange for our two people and ourselves. All the Sophomores went around asking each other, "Have you all your dances taken? " Won't you give me one for my Freshman? " We all had a very good time, though we got pretty tired. The dances were very short, so that we had to hurry between each one, first to give up-the our partner to her hostess, then to find each of our Freshmen and each of their next partners, and then find our own partners.I sat down during most of the dances, but when we could not find a seat, we walked around. There are a good many girls who do not dance. I had several promenades with teachers, Prof. Salmon, Prof. French—the new teacher of Psychology- a little bit of a man who is awfully bashful - the only unmarried man on the Faculty. Miss Whitman, the President of the Freshman class, who helped to receive, is a sister of Prof. Whitman of Adalbert. One of the girls took me to call on her several weeks ago. She is a remark- able girl, very bright and interesting and pleasant. It is strange that she is so animated when her brother is just the opposite. Refreshments were served about the middle of the evening. I helped to serve them and wehad to go way down into the gymnasium each time, and carry up two or three plates, with no hands left to hold up our dresses- But we got along all right. Then they had shadowX pictures, which were splendid. They were for the benefit of the Fresh- men and were illustrative of Geometry and Latin etc. There was a girl who went insane over geometry, waving parallelopipeds etc. wildly in the air - A cute poem was read at the same time. Then they illustrated the first page or two of Livy, reading the Latin at the same time. They had the women come out and wail and tear their hair, then a battle - girls rushing at each other and clashing sticks etc. Then they had the elpphants — girls walking across with their heads bent way over, and their hands turned upfor trunks. You would not think they would look much like elephants but they did-and were greatly applauded. Then they represented the trip to Mohunk, when it poured, you know. They got one of Baby Taylor's^ rocking horses, and a small girl in the class rode across the stage behind it, holding an umbrella- I gave the description of Livy for Lou's benefit. She would have enjoyed it. I wore my white silk, but did not wear gloves. A good many of the girls did not wear gloves, and it was a great saving. There are only two other occasions this year when I will wear my white silk. We had some special work to do Saturday, so that we did not have time to do any of our regular work, and I don't see exactly how we are going to get through this week,- though for that matter I have wonderedbout that every Saturday night so far. I thought I had to study hard last year, and so I did, but it wasn't a circumstance to this year. We Just work like dogs this semester. I keep thinking I will get a little ahead, and so keep comparatively comfortable, but I can't keep up with my lessons, much less get ahead. There is always a lot of extra work for us to do, too. Then we come down to dinner Saturday evening and have the Juniors tell us that they have almost all their lessons for the next week finished. I think I shall write my next essay during the Thanksgiving vacation. Ray got a box from Harry this week, with some of his sofa* pillows, and a comforter, and table-cover, and a few other little things, which added a good deal to the room. I would write more if i did not feel so much like going to bed, so goodnight. Give my love to the neighbors. Your loving daughter Adelaide. jCldflin, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

December 3, 1893

Text

Vassar College. Dec. 3, 1893. My dear Ed,- It's too bad when you were so angelic as to write to me three or four times that I can't write to you oftener. But If the family were not so large I would get around it sooner. O you ought to hare been here to Thanksgiving dinner.' You would have been filled well enough to last a month. There wasn't a thing on the menu but what was awfully good, though of course we couldn't much more than taste of most things. Of course I... Show moreVassar College. Dec. 3, 1893. My dear Ed,- It's too bad when you were so angelic as to write to me three or four times that I can't write to you oftener. But If the family were not so large I would get around it sooner. O you ought to hare been here to Thanksgiving dinner.' You would have been filled well enough to last a month. There wasn't a thing on the menu but what was awfully good, though of course we couldn't much more than taste of most things. Of course I didn't waste my appetite on the common vegetables that I can get every day, so that I appreciated the good things at the end. We enjoyed Thanks- giving Day very much. In the first place, during vacation we did not haveto get up till half past seven. On the table after breakfast we found some bread and butter and ham and cookies and apples, which we took up to our rooms in our napkins, just as we would put up our own lunch at home for school. Then we could eat this whenever we pleased, for dinner was not to be until three oclock. At nine oclock there was a short service over in the chapel, to which I went, though some of the girls went in to town to church. Then I spent the rest of the morning in the library, reading American History, in which I am going to take my exam, on Saturday. At noon a half dozen of us ate our lunch together and loafed until it was time to dress for dinner. About half of the girls had gone away, a smaller proportion than usual, they said. When the dinner bell rang we gathered near the dining room door (all of us in Strong Hall went over to the main building), and Dr. Taylor's little girl and Dr. Thelberg's little girl, both about three years old, headed theprocession into the dining room, followed by the President and those of the Faculty who stayed. They all sat at one table. Thea the girls followed, two by two, singing a Vassar College song. I happened to go in among the last, and got at a table where there were only six; most of the tables had fifteen. We stood behind our chairs while Dr. Taylor asked the blessing. He usually has his meals with his family in his own rooms. We found our menus in our glasses, and since there were so many vacant places at our table, we each took another menu. Of course there was a good deal of time wasted between the courses, but we were two hours and a half at the table. In the middle of this time Morgan Taylor, the President's little boy, got a telegram telling about the Yale and Princeton game, and Dr. Taylor stood up and announced it. Then all the Princeton girls clapped. The girls in the East are so interested in those games, and almost every girl is either for Yale, or for Princeton, or for Harvardetc. They wear little pins representing the flag of the college which they stand up for. Dr. Taylor, in the morning service spoke about Thanksgiving football games, and said he was very sorry the custom had grown, since it took away the religious Dec. 10, 1893 - 2 and domestic character of the day, which it ought to have. He thought it was especially to be regretted that this had been done by the college world. After dinner we came home and talked with some girls. Then the President always has an informal reception in the evening. We went over to this about eight, after we had spent more than half an hour in coaxing a shy girl to come. Her name is Fannie Hart and her home in Charleston, South Carolina. She finally went with us and enjoyed herself ever so much. I got acquainted with several nice girls whom I had not met before. About half past nine we all went out into the dining room and had some ice cream. We would have had a good deal more than we did, if a maid had not come to our table and calmly asked the girl at the head for five piecesof ice cream to take up to some girl's room. That night Carrie Hardin, the daughter of the missionaries in Syria, came over and spent the night with me. During vacation we could stay up as long as we pleased. Friday morning I spent in the library again, and after lunch I helped a girl put up some curtains for some girls who were away. Then I walked into town to Naa McClelland's house, (she lives in town but rooms at college) and helped her to dress her "Christian" doll. You see every year the Y.W.C.A. buys dolls which the girls take and dress; some girls take two or three- Then they have a doll show and exhibit them, then Dec. 10, 1893 - 2 send them to the College Settlement in New York city, to be distributed among poor children. After dinner Friday I helped another girl dress her doll; at eight I went to a spread, and had a piece of cake an orange, some chocolate to drink, and a piece of candy. Tell Edie not to be alarmed at spreads. I have only been to three or four, and they do not occur at midnight. It's just the same as eating a little betweenmeals at home. I have just known of two girls having a fit of indigestion and they probably had been to a spread every night for a week, as a girl at our table has. I think only Freshmen are as foolish as to go to them as often as that. This girl happened to be invited to all these because her friends' families had all sent them boxes for Thanksgiving. Friday night I went over and spent the night with Carrie Hardin. She was left alone in four rooms. Her three roommates had all gone off for vacation. Monday morning- As usual the bell rang before I finished this last night, and I will not have any more chance to write till this after- noon. So I will finish my story to some other member of the family- I am much obliged for the ' Adelbert you sent. It was more interest- ing than usual. Why don't the Board of Managers, or whoever attends to such things, have it sent to the reading room here? They have ever so many college papers, on a separate paper, table, some from colleges Dec. 10, 1893 - 2 that I never heard of- And I am sure when there are thirteen or fourteen Cleveland girls here, that we ought to have the Cleveland college papers. The other day I found there a paper published by the Cleveland University School. More another time, from your loving sister Adelaide. Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

November 15, 1896

Text

Vassar College. Poughkeepsie. N.Y. Nov. 15. 1896. My dear Mother,— I am so sorry you are not going to Uncle Charles' for Thanksgiving - it would be such a beautiful plan, and especially for papa, who has not been thereifor so long. I am very much obliged for the little organdie corners - they are unusually pretty ones- This week I have been spending all my odd minutes from Monday to Saturday in disposing of dolls. You know every year the Y.W.C.A. buys about three hundred dolls,- that is... Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsie. N.Y. Nov. 15. 1896. My dear Mother,— I am so sorry you are not going to Uncle Charles' for Thanksgiving - it would be such a beautiful plan, and especially for papa, who has not been thereifor so long. I am very much obliged for the little organdie corners - they are unusually pretty ones- This week I have been spending all my odd minutes from Monday to Saturday in disposing of dolls. You know every year the Y.W.C.A. buys about three hundred dolls,- that is the chairman of the General Work committee does, which happens to be myself this year— and we distribute them to the girls who are willing to dress them, and then we have to collect them all again, and send them to College Settle- ments and Hospitals and home missionary schools. Before we send them off we exhibit them all - and it is a pretty sight. I have had several letters from Miss Goodrich, in connection with the box of old clothes that I sent her. We were very much disappointed that the arrangement for her to speak here could not be carried out. These last two or three days there has been a State Convention of the Y.W.C.A. in Poughkeepsie—the same thing that I went to in Syracuse last fall, you know. I was very glad to meet again some of the people whom I saw and heard in Syracuse. The delegates came out to the college yesterday afternoon, when about a dozen of us received them in the parlors and showed them the buildings and our rooms etc* Today we expect to have an honored guest in our room— Dr. William Dorpfeld, the greatest living Greek archaeologist. He is in this country for only a few weeks and Dr. Taylor considers himself very fortunate to have gotten Dr. Dorpfeld here to lecture to us- While he is here Miss Leach wants to show him some of the students* rooms, and so she is going to bring him to ours. He lectured last night in the German language - he has been learning English only for the last six weeks, so that he does not yet feel enough at home in it to lecture in our language, though he speaks it very well in conversation. His German is remarkably simple, and he speaks remarkably slowly and distinctly, so that I understood much more of hislecture than I expected - with only six weeks study of German. He seems like a very interesting man- younger than I had expected, too, for one so famous. Dr. Taylor had a reception to the Faculty in Dr. Dorpf eld's honor - over in his new house; the first time that he has entertained in his new house. Ray is still In Brooklyn - she went down there to her cousin's about two weeks ago, because she had been working too hard, over the campaign and everything, and had to have a rest. I don't know whether she will be back this week or wait till after Thanksgiving. Her father was to be in Brooklyn Friday, but I havenot heard from her since then. Winifred came out of the Infirmary last Sunday night, but she has been in bed with a cold for the last two days. This room seems to be rather ill-fated. I am sorry for the Richardson girls - those two young girls left to take care of themselves- Poor Mrs. Richardson was sick so long. I shall write Anna Leigh and Bertha a note, I think. P.M. I have Just come from such a delightful walk over the field s- from the top of the hills we watched the sun set. We did not meet Dr. Dorpfeld after all, for Prexy took care of him all the time, and Miss Leach did not have a Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

November 26, 1893

Text

Vassar College. Nov. 26, 1893. Dear mamma, - The package of flannels came all right, on Thursday. I am much obliged for them, especially the mittens. They are just what I wanted. This is a very economical place for some things, especially gloves. But girls can easily find things to spend money on, if they want to. Last night I was talking with some girls, and one of them was telling about her finances. She gets an allowance of $15 a month and at present she is $ 18.50 in debt. She had... Show moreVassar College. Nov. 26, 1893. Dear mamma, - The package of flannels came all right, on Thursday. I am much obliged for them, especially the mittens. They are just what I wanted. This is a very economical place for some things, especially gloves. But girls can easily find things to spend money on, if they want to. Last night I was talking with some girls, and one of them was telling about her finances. She gets an allowance of $15 a month and at present she is $ 18.50 in debt. She had borrowed some from Mr. Deane, the Treasurer. That is the way some girls do, when they get out of money. There are some girls here who dont know any thing at all about money; at home when- ever they wanted anything,they simply went and bought it, and charged it to their fathers, without even inquiring the price. Of course there is the opposite extreme here, too,-girls, and plenty of them, who haven't a cent to spare. We have to have some shoes for gymnasium, like tennis shoes. I am going to buy a pair from Alice Raymond, that are just new and cost 80 cents. Then I will have about $ 2 left. I dont know yet what I shall do about Christmas presents. I suppose that if I expect to make any, I shall have to have some more money then. The gymnasium opened this week. I have been just once. The girls look so funny in their suits. Mine is not full enough in the waist to be pretty. They look better on small thin girls, if I had only known about them, I could have had mine made at home, and it would have been ever so much cheaper. But when I asked the people at home about them, they said the girls had to have them made here so as to have them all made alike. Wednesday night there was a Seidl concert in town, and about ahundred and seventy five people from the college went, and they said it was very fine. Seats were from 75 cents to $1.50, so I take in only the things at the college, which are always free. Friday night Prof. Herbert E. Smyth of Bryn Mawr, lectured on Greek P^o mantle is m, but most people did not think it was very interesting, and while I was listening, I had come to the conclusion that I did not know enough to appreciate it. There was a reception for him, afterwards, to the teachers, and they said he was much more interesting there than in the lecture. Mrs. Dwight's mother is visiting her now, a very nice old lady. She was for a good while, a missionary in Turkey. She spoke of being at Marsovan, and I found that she knew Mr. Tracy very well indeed. She said he always called her "Mother Snyder". Mrs. Snyder is her name. At first, when we went to see her, she addressed all her conver- sation to Ray, and talked about Ray's grandfather, and all her missionary relations, but after I mentioned Mr. Tracy, she seemed to think thatI was quite intimately acquainted and connected with missionaries. So then she talked a long while to me. Mr. and Mrs. Tracy, she said, went back to Turkey last June or July. Tonight the Y.W.C.A. are going to have Mrs. Ballington Booth speak, on the Salvation Army. Once a month, instead of the Sunday evening prayer-meeting, they have some sort of a missionary address. I believe Mrs. Booth is considered to be a very interesting speaker. Everybody is crazy now about Thanksgiving. Ray is going to Brooklyn, after all. She had quite an "embarrassment of riches" in the way of invitations. Her cousin Mrs. Ellison, invited her first to Brooklyn. Then she had an invitation from her grandmother in Springfield, and an aunt near New York. A great many girls are going down to New York. Vacation begins Wednesday noon, and everybody has to be back by Saturday night, unless they come on the Sunday evening train from New York, as some do. Trains do not run in Connecticut on Sunday - and very few of them do aroundhere. A great many girls are going to stay here. They say we shall probably have to have our meals over in the other building though, which will not be nearly so pleasant as having them here. The dining room here is so pleasant, and it is much smaller than the old building one. I have to have my examination in American History on Dec. 9, so that I shall have to study it during the Thanksgiving vacation. Then Nan McClelland, whose home is in Poughkeepsie, has invited me to spend whatever leisure time I may have, in vacation, in helping her dress two dolls for the Y.W.C.A. The Y.W.C.A. invites the girls to dress dolls for Christmas presents for poor children, in the College Settlements, I think. A while ago they were making scrap- books for the children's Hospitals. What became of the letter from Aunt Allie that you said you were going to send me? I have been waiting to get it before I write to her. I wrote to May Holmes last week and got an answer from her right away. She said her mother was verywell, and of course, very busy. May is going to Normal School, taking two studies, and teaching half a day. She has D primary children, and thinks they are so cute. She seems to enjoy teaching them, very much. She was eighteen, two weeks ago. She said that you need not wait for them to write. Her father wrote to that Prof. Gardner and asked him to call on me. Uncle Edgar put a few lines in May's letter, and told me that Prof. Gardner was a "very nice gentleman". They did not say anything about the "Signal". 9:30 P.M. I have just come from hearing Mrs. Ballington Booth. She was perfectly splendid. She is very young looking, and wore a plain black costume. She has a very sweet face, and is what you would call fascinating, in speaking. She told of the work of the Salvation Army in all its departments, its aims and the reasons for its methods of work, and answered the objections made by people who are prejudiced against it. She told about the slum work etc. too. She is intelligent and educated and refined, herself- and awfully in earnest. The chapel was crowded, all the college and a good many from town. The bell has rung and so goodnight. Lovingly Adelaide, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

October 22, 1893

Text

pet. 1893 , Dear mamma, — I have just written to Lou, but I will put in a few words to you. This is the warmest weather for October. We sit with our windows wide open, and walk outdoors with nothing around us. It does not seem as if I would need flannels very soon. Those two sets of white flannel that were bought just before I came, are to be worn next my skin, aren't they? And they can be put in the wash? I know the gray flannel one is not to be worn next my skin. The clothes from the... Show morepet. 1893 , Dear mamma, — I have just written to Lou, but I will put in a few words to you. This is the warmest weather for October. We sit with our windows wide open, and walk outdoors with nothing around us. It does not seem as if I would need flannels very soon. Those two sets of white flannel that were bought just before I came, are to be worn next my skin, aren't they? And they can be put in the wash? I know the gray flannel one is not to be worn next my skin. The clothes from the wash always look clean, and are ironed very nicely. I wash out my own stockings. I made so many holes in one pair, that it took me nearly all day yesterday to darn them. Mamma, you have to write a note to Mrs. Kendrick, telling her or not whether^I can see any callers that may come to the College to see me, and if there are any persons whom you would not wish me to see, you must give their names to Mrs. Kendrick and she will not allow me to see them. Of course this last provision is for girls who woi\ld receive callers that their parents objected to. Whenever any callers come, their cards are sent first to Mrs. Kendrick so that she can see whether their names are on her list as objectionable. (Adelaide Claflin, '97, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

[October 1896]

Text

(postmarked O r*. 26?, 1396, First sheet missing. We had a little leeway yesterday, when we did not go to Lake Mohonk, as we had expected. It poured so the night before, that they thought the horses could not pull us uphill, so they put off our trip till next Saturday. I am afraid it will be pretty cold riding all day so late in the season, ana I am. afraid too, that the leaves will all be gone so that Mohonk will not be so beautiful as it is earlier in the fall. But I would rather go then... Show more(postmarked O r*. 26?, 1396, First sheet missing. We had a little leeway yesterday, when we did not go to Lake Mohonk, as we had expected. It poured so the night before, that they thought the horses could not pull us uphill, so they put off our trip till next Saturday. I am afraid it will be pretty cold riding all day so late in the season, ana I am. afraid too, that the leaves will all be gone so that Mohonk will not be so beautiful as it is earlier in the fall. But I would rather go then than not at all.There is to be a political debate that evening, between Ray and another Republican against two Free Sllverites, so Ray will have to stay home from Mohonk to get ready for her debate. Friday evening there will be the Hallowe'en parties, one given by the Juniors to the Sophomores, the other given by our class to the Fresh- men-— Ours is to be a masked affair, a "Masquerade Ball". I think I shall not go to it, for we would be -up" getting tired that evening, and then have to get up at half past five thenext morning to go off early on that long drive. It is very hard to find time for so many things. The week after next will be the Senior Parlor Opening. In the afternoon we have a reception there to the Sophomores, and in the evening to the Faculty. That means a little business for me, because as Secretary I have to write an invitation to each of the Facility and Post-graduates—-about sixty—five In all. Yesterday afternoon we had a bicycle parade by Republicans, and afterwarda race on bicycles, by two girls representing McKinley and Bryan. They rode from the lodge up to the front door, where "Uncle Sam" stood on a bench holding a paper representation of the White House, Of course McKinley beat, and seized the White House from Uncle Sam's hands. A big bunch of Ed's letters came this week, for which I was extremely obliged. I really had not known very much about how he was situated, for he supposed that I knew, I guess. I hope you had a nice time at Northfield. I am ever so much obliged for the McKinley picture, which came very promptly. Love to all, Adelaide. jClaflin, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

November 17, 1895

Text

Vassar College. Nor. 17. 1895. My dear Mother, — I have bean blessed with a good supply of letters this week - for which I wish to thank the writers. I imagine that Ed has learned to appreciate letters by this time - I don't see how any one can be away home from^ery long without learning it. Today is Carrie's birthday - She is twenty years old, aad feels as though she were taking a big jump in getting out of her teens* Ray and I made a little celebration for her by fixing supper for... Show moreVassar College. Nor. 17. 1895. My dear Mother, — I have bean blessed with a good supply of letters this week - for which I wish to thank the writers. I imagine that Ed has learned to appreciate letters by this time - I don't see how any one can be away home from^ery long without learning it. Today is Carrie's birthday - She is twenty years old, aad feels as though she were taking a big jump in getting out of her teens* Ray and I made a little celebration for her by fixing supper for us three in their room last night. - We had poached eggs on toast, butteredtoast besides, strawberry preserves, which Ray's cousin in Brooklyn gave her when she went down there two weeks ago, - and some little puffs filled with whipped cream, which cost tha sum of one cent apiece. Don't you think that waa an elaborate birthday spread? Carrie appreciated very much tha little trouble we took for her, for she said this is tha first time In a number of years that aha has had her birthday celebrated, or has had birth* day came last year. Ray gave her a little spoon, which is very pretty. Gertrude Smith gave her a cup aad saucer, and Winifred Kirkland gave her a little dish for odds and ends, aad I gave her a pair of bed-slippers - which Ihad great difficulty to gat done, on account of the lack of extra time. Carrie has been wanting a pair very much, so of course I was glad to make them for her - as she has bean busy making a pair for her sister. We had a very hard time to keep things secret from Carrie; she is worse than a dozen little boys about asking questions at Christmas-time. The most fun we have had this week was last night, when some girls in our class carried out an idea of their own- You see the Sopho- more Party for the Freshmen was arranged for Inst night, and so all the members of those classes were to be over in the gym, but there was nothing to which the Seniors and Juniors had to go. Now a few girls in ourclass carried out an idea of their own- You see the Sopho- more Party for the Freshmen was arranged for Inst night, and so all the members of those classes were to be over in the gym, but there was nothing to which the Seniors and Juniors had to go. Now a few girls in our class were considering on Thursday even- ing about how they would spend Saturday evening, when one of them sug- gested that they have a take-off of the Marlborough-VanderbUt wedding! This was readily agreed to, and so they looked up the accounts of it which have filled the papers lately, and tried to arrange everything as nearly like the way it really was as circumstances would allow- Of course the preparations were very hasty - n>Mbt there was no time to spend tUl Saturday- Any Juniors or Sexfers who wanted to come were invited, but the whole thing was so extempore that ever so many did not hear about it- Well, I went a little before half past eight, down to thedining-room In this building- which the girls very fortunately were allowed to use- The tables were pushed over to one side and screens placed In front of them, while the chairs were arranged as in a church, with a center aisle- Seven hand- white gloves fc buttonhole bouquet, some ushers 'with Immaculate shirtfronts" and stiff collars met the guests at the door, aad offered them their arms and conducted them to seats In swell fashion- Most of the seniors had been bright enough to dress up as swell English or New York personages - and carried off their parts wdl— the costumes of course being extremely impromptu aad laugh- Mrs, William K. Vanderbilt able. The Duchess sf Marlboeeugh was represented by the largest girlin our class, aad was accompanied by her young son, who behaved In a conscious and top-loftical manner. As guests of honor their appeared the Prince of Wales aad Queen Victoria.' Queen Victoria was decidedly successful - a senior who looks a good deal like the Queen when she pulls down the corners of her mouth, aad who has somewhat the same height and figure. She had thought of taking that character only half an hour before It was time to go- But she scraped up some clothes that would do, made a crown which was quite imposing* from the blotter on her desk, and for a train took a portiere, which trailed way behind and was held up by Lord Dunraven. A lorgnette added much to her dignity aad to the effectiveness of her stare- As the royalparty swept up the aisle, the audience rose aad said "Long live the Queen," "God save the Queen.'" Soon after this strains of Lohengrlns Wedding March floated through the air, and pretty soon we saw a lot of choir-boys march in two by two, singing some ridiculous words to the tune of Lohengrin - Ray was one of the choir-hoys - they wore white skirts around their necks for surplices - Then while the singing kept on, the bridal party entered - the bridesmaids with blue trimmings - their hats large straw ones which the f96 girls had bought for their Hallowe'en party in their Freshmen year and which they have lent for various and sundry purposes ever since- The bride was really very pretty - covered by a veil of that dotted lacy material —I don't know its name — which ordinarily serves as Helen Peters9 bed-canopy! The groom, you know, wore a blue and white checked shirt (shirt waist in this case) and a grey and white checked coat (of Grace JLandfield's.). There were eight officiating clergymen, with surplices made of black petticoats etc., and a bishop, who had the purple bands in addition. The bishop performed the cere- mony - using a service written by two of the girls * beginning "We are here assembled to Join this title and this filthy lucre in the bonds of matrimony etc. The phrases were well adapted to the circumstances - for Instance, there was a noticeable omission after the words "for richer", and Instead of "until death do us part" were inserted the words "as long as we can"-When the time for the response came the groom drawled out "I fahncy yes", while the bride replied "X don't know but I will, don't ye know." As the procession marched out the choir boys struck up a dif- ferent tune, with words, written by one of the girls, making fun of marrying for wealth and trying to appear swell, and so on. Almost as much as the ceremony itself I enjoyed watching Mr* John Fox, the Southern writer, who had lectured to the college on the previous evening- He had come with Prof. Wentworth (only two teachers were there because the rest were at the Sophomore Party) and he did not know what to make of it* He appeared very much embarrassed at first and continued to appear very much surprised. He was heardafterwards to say that he was very much astonished, because he had had the idea that Vassar girls were very aristocratic aad would not think of such a thing as ridiculing the swell aristocracy. That myth about Vassar girls being aristocratic and proud seems to be spread abroad through the country, for I have heard ever so many girls say that their friends had that idea. I am sure nothing is further from the truth. Yesterday afternoon we had a treat in the way of a violin and piano recital, given by Mr. Marsick aad Mr. Brockway — both very celebrated, they say — Mr. Marsick certainly looks celebrated: he has almost as much hair as Fadarewski- Mr. Brockway looks like aa American and appears to be very young- He played twoof his owa com- positions on the piano- Monday afternoon Mr. Joseph Jefferson, the great actor, spoke, at the invitation of the Philalethean Society- He is an old man - more than eighty, they say- His voice sounded as though he had no teeth- like Mr. James Huntington's, but as a matter of fact he has a good- looking set of false teeth- He was a very interesting speaker - most of what he said being in the line of reminiscence. He played Rip Van Winkle in Poughkeepsie in the evening, and of course a great many of the girls went - as it is not more than once or twice a year that they get a good actor in this town. We felt quite deserted during the evening - it was so quiet here. Did I tell you about Mrs. Chant, of London, who spoke tous last Sunday evening about philanthropic work in London? She was one of the most charming English speakers I have heard- This morning Dr. Gordon of the Old South Church in Boston preached for us. He was very fine- He preached again this afternoon, at five o'clock, at his own request, X suppose, for I never knew of any one doing it here before- I think we have better preaching this year than we did last year. Our work In Biology Laboratory has been so interesting this week- Can you guess what we have been doing? Dissecting angle-worms! A few of the girls hesitated a little about It, but most of us took them right up In our fingers the first thing- They had been preserved in alcohol. We could see, when we had cut the worm open, the pharynx, aesophagus, crop, gizzard and everything so nicely- I never dreamed there was all that inside of a worm. Miss O'Grady told me my dissection was a ' beautiful" one!Lots of love to all the family- Adelaide. jClaflinj I know how Edie enjoyed hearing Miss Strong lecture, for she lectured, or rather, spoke informally, to our Hellenic society last year, and I was very much pleased with her- Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

January 20, 1895

Text

Vassar College. Jan. 20. My dear Mother ,- Your welcome letter came yesterday. Now that the Christmas rush is over, not so many letters come to our room. But I always know I shall hear from home regularly, for you are all so good about writing. What a terrible storm you had- to judge from the newspaper account. Some of the snow came here. It is beautiful and sunshiny out today, though it is pretty cold. Tonight we are to have afamous speaker at the Y.W.C.A. prayer meeting, I mean missionary... Show moreVassar College. Jan. 20. My dear Mother ,- Your welcome letter came yesterday. Now that the Christmas rush is over, not so many letters come to our room. But I always know I shall hear from home regularly, for you are all so good about writing. What a terrible storm you had- to judge from the newspaper account. Some of the snow came here. It is beautiful and sunshiny out today, though it is pretty cold. Tonight we are to have afamous speaker at the Y.W.C.A. prayer meeting, I mean missionary meeting- Lady Henry Somerset. I believe she has just come over from England, but I am not sure. Friday night we had a very interesting lecture by Mr. Chas. Walcott, the head of the U.S. Geological and Coast Survey. He spoke on the "Work and Methods of the U.S. Survey - told us how they made the surveys, in detail, and why they made them and so on. It was all illustrated by stereopticon maps and views. Mr. Walcott is an old friend of Prof. Dwight, Prof, of Geology. Miss Salmon made use of the stereopticon apparatus in the afternoon, to talk tous about Charlemagne- I mean to our history class. She has promised all the semester to talk to us some recitation- She is fine and everybody likes to hear her. We will have her for history next September, if we elect it, so I want to elect it then. For next semester I elected 4 hrs. 2 hrs. 2 hrs. Chemistry. Greek and History of Art- Besides that we have two hrs, each of Latin and Greek, and three of English required. I think our Latin will not be so interesting next semester as this, but our Greek and English will be more so. We will have Prof. Leach for the elective Greek.We miss Mary very much and wish she could be here, but we are very fortunate in having Carrie in her place, instead of having a strange Freshman put in. Mary does not tell much about herself In her letters. I packed her things in her old trunk Friday, and sent them to her by express. She had us keep all the things that were useful or ornamental in the parlor. Carrie was quite tickled to room us, for she was not very happy with her Freshman, whom she did not know before- Examinations begin a week from tomorrow, and oh dear! They make them hard and long- Then the year will be half over. Time goes quickly. Lovingly Adelaide. Claflin, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

October 7, 1894

Text

Vassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, Oct. 7. 1894. My dear Mamma,— I am supposing that you are all safe in Ypsilanti now, so I will address this to you there, and write the news to the rest at home too. I am so glad you decided to go to Ypsi, for you did need a change, and there was no use denying it. And it will be so nice for Aunt Lizzie. She must be lonesome with- out "Marion", as I see they call her now, andI do think "Marion" is lots prettier. I can't think of Anne... Show moreVassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, Oct. 7. 1894. My dear Mamma,— I am supposing that you are all safe in Ypsilanti now, so I will address this to you there, and write the news to the rest at home too. I am so glad you decided to go to Ypsi, for you did need a change, and there was no use denying it. And it will be so nice for Aunt Lizzie. She must be lonesome with- out "Marion", as I see they call her now, andI do think "Marion" is lots prettier. I can't think of Anne and Emma as making cakes, and churning butter, for I always think of them as they were when I was there---little children. I should -be-like to be with you now so much, and see all of you at Aunt Lizzie's. Julia Gardner is out here at the college now. She rooms over at Strong Hall. We called on her last week, and she has been up to our room several times. I took her to the Young Women's Christian Association reception Friday night. It is the first "event" of thesXyear, and all the girls who belong to the Y.W.C.A. take a new student to the reception, and act as an escort for her. In that way the new girls are introduced to a good many of the older ones. I was going to take Katharine Dunham, but Ida McKean, (a Cleveland girl) wanted her too, and as Ida is in her class, I thought perhaps Katharine would meet more of her own class by going with Ida, so I let Ida have her, and I invited Julia Gardner. I was very glad to take Julia, for she is a nice little girl. Julia hasa very nice room-mate, a girl whom Carrie Hardin roomed with in preparatory school. At the reception. Miss Hoagland, the president of the Y.W.C.A. received, together with Dr. and Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Kendrick. The Glee Club sang a number of times, some old songs and some new ones. One of them was mado up by one of the girls this week, and was full of funny things that have hap- pened within the last few days. We had icecream and cake afterwards- Everybody seemed to enjoy the reception. There is a Freshman this year who is a regular doctor, an M.D. She takes everything in the course except Hygiene. There is also a Freshman named Miss Vassar, a grand-niece or a great-granddaughter of Matthew Vassar, I am not certain which. I have not yet found out how many new students there are this year. This morning we went into town to church, and took some Freshmen with us to show them the way- Ray took one, and I knew took two, to the Dutch Reformed Church, where they had communion service. Their service is a good deal different from ours at communion, but I like the minister very much. They have not got the electriccars running out to the college yet. They have them running for a little distance down town, and are the cars fixing the rails near here now, so I suppose 4hey will be all settled before the year is over. Ray is feeling very badly about her brother Harry, because he has had trouble with his throat so much that the doctor has told him now that he must not go to the Hartford Seminary this year, but he must lead an active out-door life. He is to have his tonsils taken out right away, in New York.Fritz is in New York now looking for a job. I have been having a job for two weeks, helping a girl who had to take a re-examination in Algebra. I gave her lessons at 50 cents an hour, which will put four dollars in my pocket. I shall feel quite proud to think I earned it. It was hard to find the time, because I had to spend some time getting ready for the lesson, as well as teaching it, and the girl did not know beans. I am thinking of buying a two- dollar edition of Shakspere, like ne that I have seen, with part of the money, especially as we have to use Shakspere this year in English work. We are all keeping a cash account this year, and as we have been buying a good many books and things together, we had to spend half the morning yesterday in straightening out our finanees- I wrote to the Postmaster yesterday about your picture, and if he does not find it in a day or two, I will write home for another. It is too bad to have one lost. Carrie Hardin gave me a picture of her- self that she has just had taken. I wish you could see her for she is such a nice girl- Give my love to Uncle Edgar and Aunt Lizzie and the rest of the family- I amgoing to write to May tonight. Lovingly Adelaide. (Clafiin, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

December 10, 1893

Text

<p>Vassar College. Dec. 10, 1893. My dear Edith,&mdash; I have no idea whether or not you are still at Uncle Charles&#39;. But if you are, I know you would like to get a letter, so I will risk addressing it there. You may imagine I was rather astonished to hear of your going off so suddenly, I am very glad you could go there and have a visit, though it is too bad that it was pain that compelled you to go. You do have such a hard time with your teeth, as well as with a good many... Show more<p>Vassar College. Dec. 10, 1893. My dear Edith,&mdash; I have no idea whether or not you are still at Uncle Charles&#39;. But if you are, I know you would like to get a letter, so I will risk addressing it there. You may imagine I was rather astonished to hear of your going off so suddenly, I am very glad you could go there and have a visit, though it is too bad that it was pain that compelled you to go. You do have such a hard time with your teeth, as well as with a good many things. It is too bad. I hope my teeth will last until I get home, without needing</p> any filling. Friday afternoon the daughter of Mr. Gardner, Uncle Edgar's cousin, came out to see me, together with a lady who is her mother's cousin. I think she is a real nice little girl. I don't know, though, as I ought to call her little, since she is coming out here to college next year, but she is very young, and wears her hair down her back. (By the way, there are a good many girls here who wear their hair down their bdcks). The lady with her is ever so nice and reminds me very much of Mrs. Handerson. I think she is just visiting them. They invited me, together with two other college girls and two Poughkeepsie girls, to spend the afternoon yesterday and stay to supper. We had a very pleasant time. Her father is very pleasant & something like Uncle Edgar. I did not especially fancy her mother, because she is Woman's Suffrage. She talked quite long and seriously on the subject at the table and I believe she was really trying toconvert us to believe^in it, because none of us did. I wanted to laugh so badly. But still she is rather nice otherwise- Mr. Gardner is Secretary of a business college in Poughkeepsie, and also, as I learned, preaches at the Friends' church, not the Evangelical one, but the Unitarian one. They have ever and ever so many books in their house. When we came home, we took the last car, which leaves Poughkeepsie at eight oclock, in the evening,—that is, it leaves if there is anybody to ride in it, other- wise it doesn't- The driver is always mad when there is anybody to ride in it, because if there wasn't, his day's work would be over. So last night he was mad enough to whip up his horses very energetically, so that they actually ran, and ran fast, and the car went bumping along at a terrific rate---for it. Those cars are the funniest little things, bobtails, with the door, in the back, so low that you have to bob your head if you have a haton. It looks so queer to see no platform at the back end, nothing but one step- They charge ten cents car fare if you ride way to the college, so we almost always walk between the college and Arlington, a little place about half way to town, and from there the fare is only five cents. But still we walk all the way to town unless the weather is very bad, or we haven't time. The cars run every twenty four minutes; that is, they go. I never knew them to run until last night. Ordinarily you can walk about as fast as the car goes. That "Vassar Tea" must have been very pleasant. I am glad you met all those teachers. I have met Cornelia Ranney and Irene Lawrence. Cornelia Ranney is very pretty, and pleasant, but I think she is a a dreamy, unpractical sort of a girl. I used to meet Irene Lawrence every day on the way to High School, but when she was calling on me the other evening she expressed surprise when she found I was from Cleveland. Theyare both very pleasant when we meet them, but as they are over In the old building, and not in any of our classes, we don't see much of them. We have met all of the Cleveland girls, I think, except one. There are thirteen or fourteen altogether. Later. I have just come back from an address to the Y.W.C.A. by Miss Price, who is connected with the international Y.W.C.A. She told of the work and aims of the Y.W.C. Associations in cities and colleges, in this country and Canada. Last week there was such an interesting lecture by the chaplain of Hampton Institute, who told us all about Hampton, in a very interest- ing way. He had stereopticon views, which, of course, added a good deal to the interest, and made it much more real. There were pictures, not only cf the buildings and grounds, but of homes from which some of the students came, little tumbledown cabins of thecolored people, and mud huts of Indians, pictures of some of the children as they were when they came, and of the same ones when they went away. There was a quartet, too, of colored young men, who sang darky hymns. We got a splendid idea of Hampton. It is already after nine oclock, and I must still write to mamma a few lines, and I have to get up early tomorrow morning, too, as I generally have to Monday morning any way. I hope you haven't been killed with your teeth, and that you will get them fixed up nicely so that you won't have to bother with them for a while- Give my love to Uncle Charles and Aunt Effie, and keep lots for your own dear self. Your loving sister Adelaide Claflin.Dear Mamma My tooth is not yet finished, but I hope will be today. I will come home as soon as I can. I did not expect to have to stay so long. A Miss Brown is here, a very sweet girl- and musical. We enjoy her playing very much. Lovingly, E[?] (This is written across the top of Adelaide Claflin's letter to her sister Edith, Dec. 10, 1893.) Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

October 5, 1896

Text

Vassar College. Poughkeepsle. N.Y. (postmarked Oct. 5, 1896) My dear Bess,— As usual you have been very good about writing to me, so I think it is your turn for a letter* I am much obliged to you for sending Demosthenes' Philippics with such "speed and alacrity"* They came just in the nick of time. I sent the chemistry apron immediately, but I had no means of getting Wurtz's Chemistry, as Remden's is the one used here. I am glad Grace T. is paying up, though it is... Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsle. N.Y. (postmarked Oct. 5, 1896) My dear Bess,— As usual you have been very good about writing to me, so I think it is your turn for a letter* I am much obliged to you for sending Demosthenes' Philippics with such "speed and alacrity"* They came just in the nick of time. I sent the chemistry apron immediately, but I had no means of getting Wurtz's Chemistry, as Remden's is the one used here. I am glad Grace T. is paying up, though it is gradual. Don't forget that she is to return my Ray's Algebra, and also the Test Problems in Algebra. I don't like this news I hear, about all of you having colds. I can hardly remember a time when mamma has had to go to bed with a cold. You said that Miss Carrie Smith had typhoid fever. Do you mean the one who lives across the street? - for I heard just as I cameaway that Carrie Smith Ford had it. Did I tell you last week that Ethel Chapman was here visiting Carrie Abbott? She staid two or three days, and then expected to go right through to Detroit, without stopping In Cleveland. You will be relieved to know (at least we were) that our Freshman, Daisy Newberg, has gone home for good. She went for a visit of two days and then came back here to see how she liked it. and finally decided not to stay, and Mrs. Kendrick did not urge her to stay longer; neither did we, for we had given her up lfor a hopeless case, concluding that she had not enough backbone to keep herself here. She sold all her furniture and books that she had bought; she expected to forfeit about one hundred and twenty-five dollars of the money she had paid, but Mr. Dean told her perhaps she would not have to because she went away so early in the year. We were sorry that all our effort was of no avail. Daisy sent me up from New York a card case for my birthday: it is quite pretty — leather much like my belt. I was glad to get the card-case, but we hated to have such a new acquaintance giving us presents. She told me she was going to send the rest of the girls presents at Christmas time — I suppose she wishes to be absolutely impartial. I had a very pleasant happy birthday — letters from home, and one from Edith Penfield, a pound of candy from Ed, and also a little box me of candy from Norma Cutter, Ray and Winifred gaveAa plaster plaque - an angel by Donnatello, and Carrie and G. gave me a silver hatpin. In the usual fashion our table had a birthday celebration, not only for me, but also for Emma Thornton, who was born on the same day and in the sameyear that I was. Is'n't that queer? Now she and Norma Cutter and I are triplets! The table was decorated very prettily with autumn leaves, and there were menu cards to match, with autumn leaves painted on them by one of the girls. Emma and I each had a birthday cake — chocolate layer cake — with twenty-two candles in it. and for dessert we had ice cream from Smith's. Florence Dowling sits at a table near oars, so that I see her at a distance every day. She has the reputation of being the freshest Freshman there is. I have heard a number of stories about her actions. She chewed gum in Miss Richardson's geometry class, (and Miss Richardson is the most awe-inspiring teacher here). Miss R. called her up after class, and told her that "never before in the history of Yassar College had she known of a girl chewing gum in class." Before Florence had been here three days she went into the room of three Sophomores whom we know, and told them in a peremptory tone "please to make less noise", when they were simply talking quietly. Marion Schibsby squelched her in such a quiet and apparently innocent manner. Marion was calling in Florence Dowling's room, and they were talking about how young some of the teachers looked, and Florence remarked "Why, I think Miss Ball looks as young as I!" Marion looked her over rather critically and then remarked slowly, "No, I don't think she looks as young as you do, but she looks very young!'" Another story about a Freshman and Miss Gentry is going the rounds. This Freshman went up to Miss Gentry (who is by no means good-looking) and asked her if she were from Boston. Miss Gentry said no, she had never been in Boston till last summer. The Freshman replied, "That is strange; I was sure you were from Boston, for you look just like the pictures of Boston women in Puck!" Friday night was the Y.W.C.A. reception to the new students. I invited Julia Tarbox early, but when the day came some of the Fresh- men were still uninvited, so I took a Miss Tourtellot in addition. Julia Tarbox is the girl whose sister roomed with Edith Penfield in Oberlin. Miss Tourtellot spent the evening in telling me and everybody else how horrid her roommates are! Today there was no church service here, so we went to town. Tonight the Bible lectures begin, and we are very fortunate indeed to have Prof. Burton of the University of Chicago, to give them till Christmas. They say he is very fine- Love to all the neighbors and the family— from your sister Adelaide. (Claflin) Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

February 4, 1894

Text

Vassar College, Feb. 16, 1894. My dear mamma, - I have just waked from a long nap, into which I fell unintentionally. It was rather hot in our room and so it was easy to fall asleep. Our room is pretty well heated - the rooms on the west side of the house have a good deal of trouble to keep warm, sometimes, and the rooms on the corners are worst of all- Our room is just in the middle of the building. The weather has been colder for the past week or two, it has snowedvery often, and is snowing... Show moreVassar College, Feb. 16, 1894. My dear mamma, - I have just waked from a long nap, into which I fell unintentionally. It was rather hot in our room and so it was easy to fall asleep. Our room is pretty well heated - the rooms on the west side of the house have a good deal of trouble to keep warm, sometimes, and the rooms on the corners are worst of all- Our room is just in the middle of the building. The weather has been colder for the past week or two, it has snowedvery often, and is snowing now, though not hard. Friday night Ray and I were invited to go on a sleighing party, and we went, the first time, I think, that I ever went. There were about twenty girls, with Fraulein Neef as a chape rone. We started a little while after chapel, and, like good children, came home early, at quarter past nine. It was not very cold, so that we had not much trouble in keeping warm. We drove through Poughkeepsie, and we certainly needed a chaperone then, for several crowds of boys snowballed us, and some of them caught on sleigh- which had two long rows of seats facing each other, as in a streetcar, and a step at the rear. Along the country roads we sang college songs. A number of girls went home yesterday noon to stay during the time between semesters. The girls who live near can get home pretty often. A good many of the Faculty went down to New York yesterday, too.ur examination in English Thursday was rather on Carlyle easy - we just had to criticise four pages of an essay,^and then analyze the whole essay. Our exam, in Hygiene was not very hard either, and it was short so that we got through long before the two hours were up. The "flunk-notes" are all sent out, except for Hygiene, and Ray and I have not yet received any. There were four other girls in our room yesterday when the noon mail came, and when they found that no flunk-notes came in it for us, they had a sort of a wild Indian war dance. Our classes are arranged all over again. They change them around so that different girls will get acquainted. Ray and I are now in all the same classes except Latin. ^ It is rather unusual to have so many classes together. Even our gymnasium hours are the same. I like the arrangement of my hours better than those I had last semester, except that I have four recitations on Thursday and two on Friday, instead of three everyTday. Miss McCaleb does all the arrang- ing into classes. I am making a little progress in skating. I went to the rink to try it, Friday and Saturday. It is very convenient to have some of your friends learning at the same time. I learn the slowest of any one I have seen yet. A. girl who went with me the other day was trying it fcr the first time in her life, and she could do it better that time than I could, though I had been a half a dosen times or more in my life. But I will learn yet. There was no church in the chapel today, it being the first Sunday in the month. So we went to town, to the first Dutch Reformed church, whose minister is considered to be the best in town. We think he is the best one we have heard in town, so that I think we shall | go there regularly after this. The pastor is Dr. Van Guysen, a rather old man. On account of the snow we rode in the horse car between town and Arlington, and walked between Arlington and the college. Between the first two points the fare is five cents, but if youride all the way to the college, the fare is ten cents. Saturday night we had some more fun, over in Arlie Raymond's room. Hope and Maidee Traver and one or two other girls were there too, and we played games and told each others' fortunes. One game that we played is lots of fun; it is called "It." It is played much like "twenty questions," only the second or third time that somebody has to go out of the room, they send some one who does not know how to play "It," and the object that they decide on is each person's left-hand neighbor; and, of course, as this is different every time the answers are very contradictory, and the one trying to guess it gets discouraged. Several of the girls here are having their sisters visit them, between semesters. They have to sleep at the cottages near by, but they can come to their meals here if they pay 50 cents apiece for their breakfast and lunch, and 75 cents for dinner. Well, tomorrow I shall have to begin to "grind". On account of the Algebra, I shall have to work harder than I did last year. The Sophomores tell us awful stories of it. They saythat while you have Higher Algebra, you don't count your cuts. Don't be afraid that I shall injure my health, I never was better in my life, and I take in some fun and laziness too, for all that I have to study harder and more steadily than I did last year. Your loving daughter Adelaide Claflin. Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

September 21, 1896

Text

Vassar College. Sep. 21. 1896 My dear Mother,— I must write now as fast as I can to get this in before the nine o'clock mail. I have been so engaged with Freshmen that Z have not had time to write before, but I knew papa could tell you that Z arrived safe. The rest of the girls came on Tuesday, but there was not so much to be done that day so that it was all rightfor me not to get here till Wed. There were ten of us- Seniors Z mean, and our duty was to meet aew new comers and parents at... Show moreVassar College. Sep. 21. 1896 My dear Mother,— I must write now as fast as I can to get this in before the nine o'clock mail. I have been so engaged with Freshmen that Z have not had time to write before, but I knew papa could tell you that Z arrived safe. The rest of the girls came on Tuesday, but there was not so much to be done that day so that it was all rightfor me not to get here till Wed. There were ten of us- Seniors Z mean, and our duty was to meet aew new comers and parents at the front door, find out what they wanted and take them wherever they ought to go- to Miss McCaleb's office, to Mr. Dean's office and to Mrs. Kendrick1 s office - all «*on dif- ferent floors, so that we were running up and down all the time. Zt has been very interesting work indeed, and Z am glad Z came to do it. All the time that Z have not been taking people somewhere Z have been stand-ing around talking to them, here and there, answering their questions etc. A chief part of the conversational efforts, has been to get hold of people who had to go to the Windsor and praise up the Windsor to them before so that they would be willing to go there and not take up a lot of Mrs. Kendrick's time in objecting to the Windsor. We have tried to save her time as much as possible for fche has had to be talking to people from morning till night since Tuesday morning.The parents are a great deal more talkative than the girls usually, and so Z have listened to a great many parents telling me their daughter's history, present and past. There were a number of girls whom I had heard about before- hand, one of them, Julia Tar box, a sister of the girl who roomed with Edith Penfield in Oberlin. She was a special proteglfor the first day or two, because she felt so badly— I had her sleep up here in Ray's bed room, and she wept on my shoulder most of the evening. But she was soon happily settled, for she has been put in a very nice room with two very pleasant sophomores for room mates. But since then we have had a worse case on hand - a girl by the nameof Miss Newborg - a wealthy German Jewess from New York City. She was so very home sick Satur- day noon that she went to Mrs. Kendrick and told her she must go home immediately and would never come back. Mrs. Kendrick tried to per- suade her to stay, but she could not seem to succeed, so she sent for me and asked me if we would be willing to keep her in our room over Sunday and tide her over the homesick period- The girl consented to come with me and we havehad her till just now- For the first hour or two in our room she would not say a word, but just nodded her head yes or no. - then finally she-said replied "Yes" to one question. The next step was when she volunteered a question, and by bed time she had progressed so far as to say that she thought she could be contented to stay if she could be in this building. Sunday morning she had X gone back a little and wept some- what, but the rest of the day shesteadily grew more cheerful and at bed- time said she was nearly cured. So this morning she has gone over to the Windsor! The class seems to me to be a very fine class- Libbie Poppleton is here as a member of it- I met her in the hall - and Florence Dowling too - One of the other Freshmen told me about her aad said her mother was here. As soon as I could findout where her room was I went there but she had just taken her mother to the train. I have not seen Florence yet. This other Freshman said that Mr. Dowling had just had a call to Toledo, and they are now moving there. We have not finished fixing our room, because Ray and Winifred did not get here till Friday night, and I had no time to spend till-yes* Saturday afternoon. I think we shsll have quite a pretty room. \ And it is very conveniently situated. Most of the girls in our class are back, but about thirty have dropped out of the Sophomore class- Ethel Chapman is here visiting Carrie Abbott - came Saturday night and will stay till this noon. X have not had time to see her much because Miss Newborg has been clinging to me- I was so glad papa could stop though he did not stay very long. I showed him most of the buildingsbut not much of the grounds- Ray says to tell him she wishes he had come while she was here- Ed says he and Wiers will stop off for two hours Tuesday afternoon. X have a Greek recitation then but Miss Leach said she would excuse me from it. I found the things I left here all right, and no moths. I have a time to find room for my clothes. X suppose Lou 1s settled at home by this time and will soon be started in college* Has GraceThum paid the three dollars yet? I lent her two books too, algebras - which I suppose she has returned by this time. We have our picture of McKinley on the outside of our door - where it looks very fine. It is time for the mail now, so farewell — Ray sends her love — and so do I - Lovingly Adelaide. jClaflin}Senior year 1896-7 Roomed in 117, Single Alley Way, Main 3rd South, with R.C. Schauffler & W. Kirkland Show less

Creator

Mansfield-Claflin, Adelaide

Date

November 1, 1896

Text

Vassar College. Poughkeepsie. November 1. 1896. My dear Lou,— I hope you are having as lovely weather now as we are. We had so much rain the first part of the fail, that I had given up expect- ing aay good weather. But this week it has beea perfectly beautiful every day. Yesterday we finally saw Mohonk. The day was perfectly clear and quite warm, sothat it was very comfortable for driving. Half of our class, and the Freshmen who are in the Main Building made up the party. You know the rest of... Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsie. November 1. 1896. My dear Lou,— I hope you are having as lovely weather now as we are. We had so much rain the first part of the fail, that I had given up expect- ing aay good weather. But this week it has beea perfectly beautiful every day. Yesterday we finally saw Mohonk. The day was perfectly clear and quite warm, sothat it was very comfortable for driving. Half of our class, and the Freshmen who are in the Main Building made up the party. You know the rest of the Seniors and Freshmen went two weeks ago. We started at half past six, in "barges" - which is the name given here to a kind of open omnibus; there were twelve in our barge, four of them Freshmen - very nice ones too. We were the second barge, so we got across the river in the first ferry load, and reached Mohonk by eleven o'clock- On the way we sang all the songs wecould think of- and composed two into the bargain. One was this:- to the tune of "Tramp, tramp, tramp"— In the barges now we sit, Ninety-seven and Naughty-naught, To Mohonk our way we pleaaantly do wend, And with plsasurs the day is very clear. And with pleasure all is fraught; Uncle Fred, to thee our hearty thanks we'll send. Chorus: Cheer, cheer, cheer for seven-and-ninety Cheer for Nine teen-hundred too, Cheer for Uncle Fred end Prex, Vassar's uncle and her "rex", May they gladden hearts of classes yet to come!From Mohoak I mailed a -ear little book which they gave away at the hotel — giving very good pictures of the place—so far as they go- but unfortunately the pictures give mostly the artificial beauties of the place - "the improvements and give very little idea of the grand- ness of the natural beauties. They have not shown the most impressive parts of the scenery at all. 1 mailed one of these little books to Uncle Charles, as well as to mamma.When we reached Mohonk, we girls went to "Sky top" - which is the highest point there, from which there is a most glorious view. We came back by way of the "Crevice", which is a most difficult pro- ceedings. The "Crevice" Is is a crack between two great walls of rock, Just about the width of one's body. From the top at one end, you can let yourself down from one ledge of rock to another, and so by a gradual descent reachthe outer air at the bottom on the other end. It is not like a chasm, where you would fall hundreds of feet straight down, if you made a mistake, but it is like a stairway, where is a footing all the time. When you reach the outside of the crack, then you have to wind round and round the mountain over a floor of boulders* stepping up and down all the time from one boulder to another. This part is called the "Labyrinth". It was altogether an interesting walk, you can imagine. When we came back to the hotel, were quite ready for our lunch, as it was seven hours since breakfast. Unfortunately there was nothing hot to eat, - only some very strong coffee - which gave one of the girls in our barge a headache which she still has- There were hard sandwiches, •cold'boiled eggs, very rich milk, and cookies. After luncheon we just sat in a summer house, as most of us had had enough of walking and climbing. We started home again at half-past two. The hotel has been closed for the season, so there were no people there except the ones necessary to wait on us. We reached college again at six o'clock, just as the bell was striking for dinner. In the evening there was aRepublican mass-meeting, at which three girls and Prof. French and Prof. Wentworth spoke. Prof. Went- worth tried to be funny - without succeeding - but the rest were all very good. There was a procession, too - with drums and flags, but no horns allowed. This morning I thought I had better stay quietly at home for a change, so I did not go to town to church. Mrs. Kendrick came into our room because Ray was in bed for a little rest, and Ray and I had a delightful talk with her. Our Senior Parlor Opening Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

March 24, 1894

Text

Vassar College. March 24, 1894. My dear Edie,-- Vacation has begun, and I am alone in my room now. I think vacation will be very pleasant. It is a rest to have only a few girls here, and have it quiet- Even though I keep busy all the time, it is a rest to do what I feel like doing, when I feel like doing it. During vacation we have to read DeQuincey's Confessions of an Opium Eater, and Joan of Arc and English Mail coach, for English - Gertrude Smith and Arlie Raymond and I havebeen... Show moreVassar College. March 24, 1894. My dear Edie,-- Vacation has begun, and I am alone in my room now. I think vacation will be very pleasant. It is a rest to have only a few girls here, and have it quiet- Even though I keep busy all the time, it is a rest to do what I feel like doing, when I feel like doing it. During vacation we have to read DeQuincey's Confessions of an Opium Eater, and Joan of Arc and English Mail coach, for English - Gertrude Smith and Arlie Raymond and I havebeen reading the "Confessions" today, one reading while the others darned stockings or sewed- (Arlie Raymond is making over an old silk skirt into a waist). I dont like the book at all. I think DeQuincey is the most conceited, egotistical man I ever read. Miss Sweet gives us lectures in English class, and they are very interesting- She has such an interesting, though peculiar, quiet way of talking- Her lectures on Lamb were fine. Most of the girls went away yesterday noon. Vacation began at half past eleven, but as Ray had no recitation before that, she started before breakfast yesterday morning, taking the 7:47 train for New York, and going from there to Springfield. She took a trunk along, and all her old clothes, as her grandmother is going to have all her spring sewing donefor her there. She bought the cloth for several new dresses, two or three weeks ago, so she wrote, to Ray. Ray will be so fine when she gets back that I won't know her. She will have rather a quiet time at her grandmothers, I think, and I am glad, for she needs a rest. She has been working so hard. She is the kind of girl whom people always ask to do the extra things- For Miss Richardson she and Gertrude Smith have been looking up the History of Algebra. They have read several beside works on the subject, and anaong the English ones Ray has read a good deal of a German one, and Gertrude S. a French one. They are going to write out what they have discovered and read its- it in class after vaca- tion. Ray's music lessons, too, have taken up an hour a day. I wish you had sent the paper which told about the Salvation Army in connectionwith Vassar. About two weeks ago Ray got a letter from her father, beginning: "My dear Rachel,- Have you joined the Salvation Army? " She was perfectly thunder-struck, and not less so when her father went on to say that there had been an article in the Leader the night before saying that Vassar was much excited about the Salvation Army, and that fifteen girls and Mrs. Kendrick had joined it. That is all he told about it, and he did not send the article. If it had not been for this episode, I should not have had the slightest idea of what you were referring to: since I have not heard the Salvation Army mentioned (any more than casually, once or twice, when giMs were discussing the dif- ferent speakers who have been here) since Mrs. Booth was here. That perhaps shows how "exclted(?)" the college is over it. About a dozen girls did join the Auxiliary League when Mrs. Booth was here. By so doing they gave five dollars to Mrs. Booth and promised to use their influence in favor of the Army,as the editorial from the Leader explains. That, however, excited no comment. I met Mrs. Kendrick in the hall the day after I got your letter, and spoke to her about it. She said no girl had ever joined the Army while she was a student here. There was one graduate who did, a young lady who joined it in London two or three years after she graduated, and has been an active worker in it ever since. Of course this Is not saying that it not all right to join it, or that the Army itself is not a good thing; but it shows the facts of the case at this college. As for the matter of "sermons" that was all past and over long ago, and I am sorry you have been stirred up over that. I was not at all convinced that it was wrong, though it seemed a little strange. have However, I should probably^thought nothing more of it, if several girls had not comeseparately, to Ray and me, and asked us what we thought about it, and saying that they thought it was not right for us to have to do it. That is, they thought it was an excellent thing in itself, as every one does, and that it was a fine thing to be able to get the analysis of to a sermon while listeningAit and thus being able to remember it much batter; but they thought it was not right to do it for a weekday lesson; to do the work of a lesson on Sunday to be handed in Monday- any more than we would, on Sunday, get a lesson in New Testament Greek, if a course in that were one of our regular studies, because on Sunday we ought to forget all our week's work, and our lessons. So we thought It would do no harm Just to speak to Miss Nettleton about it. So we did, and that would have been an end of the matter, if Mrs. Kendrick had not heard of it. But she heard of it some way, andthought it was not right for us to have to analyze sermons for lessons, and told Ray so, and there was the end of the matter. I was afraid all the time that we were just splitting hairs, but when I found that Mrs. Kendrick, and Dr. Taylor, and Dr. Vincent, and several other older and wiser heads disapproved of it, I thought perhaps we weren't after all. Nobody's plans were inconvenienced by a stop being put to it, for it was near the end of the semester, and that work was not going to be given to us again. April weather has begun, and we have had no March winds yet. The girls who went away had to start off In a pouring rain yesterday. Most of them went at noon. Ever so many girls go down on the noon train to New York, always- They have to make their plans so far ahead, and hand in in writing where theyre going, and what train they are going to take, and what baggage, etc. a week or ten days beforehand. Then three or four days before vacation the ticket agent comes and all the girls have to go over and spend a part of the afternoon in getting their tickets from him. The 4rsr trunks have to be packed and taken from fie building a day or more before the girls start. They learn to do it in short order too, Ray can pack her trunk in half an hour. It is amusing to stand In the front vestibule when the girls are starting. Some of them embrace and take a "fond and affectionate farewell" of each other, just as if no one else were around. The college authorities have been talking lately about closing up the college during the short vacations, and making the girls who stay board some where around here so as to give Mrs. Kendrlck, and the rest of the officials who have to stay and work, more of a rest. But they have not yet decided to do it.With love to all- Your sister, Adelaide. ^Claflin Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

February 23, 1896

Text

Vassar College. February 23. 1896. My own dear Father,- This letter shall be a birthday remembrance lor you, and takes to yon all the best birthday wishes I can think ol, with hopes lor many happy returns ol the day- 1 suppose you had a little vacation and rest on Washington's birthday- Coming on Saturday it did not give the school-children a chance lor it, I suppose. But we would not have it II it came on any other day, lor you know the Faculty decreed last year that it broke into our... Show moreVassar College. February 23. 1896. My own dear Father,- This letter shall be a birthday remembrance lor you, and takes to yon all the best birthday wishes I can think ol, with hopes lor many happy returns ol the day- 1 suppose you had a little vacation and rest on Washington's birthday- Coming on Saturday it did not give the school-children a chance lor it, I suppose. But we would not have it II it came on any other day, lor you know the Faculty decreed last year that it broke into our work too much to have a holiday then.OI course we don't have Uncoln's birthday either. Friday night we had a treat ia the shape ot a lecture by Dr. Albert Shaw, the Editor ol the "Review ol Reviews". His subject was Washington, but he did not tell the usual things about him. He spoke about what our nation today owes to Washington. The lour great ser- vices which Washington rendered were: lirst, he decided the relation ol the colonies to England, namely, that they should be absolutely independent instead of being like Canada to England, or Cuba to Spain, second, he guided the lew small colonies through a war with a great Empire: third, he assimilated aad united into a harmonious whole all the varied elements in the colonies,and in the lourth place, most important ol all, he instituted aa American policy, which was sound aad unique: in financial matters he instituted the doctrine ol sound money: in foreign relations he instituted the policy of absolute non-interference in European affairs, for which he was very much censured.- and in regard to England he insisted on maintaining as amicable relations as possible, and advocated settling all disputes with her by means of arbitration. In these respects he was far ahead of his times, and Dr. Shaw said that a great deal of the credit for our Americaa foreign policy and insistence oa arbitration and desire for peaceful relationswith England, ought to be given to Washington — more than is uaually givea to him. His was one of the best lectures we have had for a long time; Miss Salmon told us beforehand he would be very good, and so we were waiting for him in an expectant frame of mind- He arrived late; and while we were assembled waiting for him a few girls in front arose and started to sing America. Of course all the rest of us immediately stood up, and we sang the four verses. Dr. Shaw has a rather disaggeeable voice, which grated on me at first, but I soon forgot all about it. He is quite a young man, and was born in Ohio - in New London- He has a very sweet-looking little wife, who came along with him. Dr. Shaw stayed till lastnight, so that he saw us all dressed for the "bal poudr£"- You know every Washington's birthday we have a Martha Washington ball. We come down to dinner in our Martha Washington costumes, about half the girls dressing as men, and then we omit chapel service - which would seem rather incongruous, and then go over to the gymnasium building about half past seven for the evening- Over here in Strong we all marched into the dining room by couples, singing America. Just as on Lincoln's birthday we sang national songs, and war- songs, while we were waiting for dessert,- or eating it. The girls at some table would start up some song, aad all the rest of us join in Immediately. So we sang song after song-After we finished "John Brown's Body", one of the girls started "Hang Jeff Davis on the sour apple tree"- to the same tune. While we sang it I saw two or three Southern girls looking mad, and I thought it was rather mean of us to sing it. Of course we sang "Star-Spangled Banner", "Marching Through Georgia" and all the rest too. la the morning before breakfast some of the girls went through all the corridors singing the national songs — like Christmas carols. Over at the gym. they had tableaux— Courtship of Miles Standish, Washington's Inaugural Ball, The Hatchet Episode etc. The girls do seem to get up such fine costumes in such a short time. Of course we sll have lots of studyingto do every Saturday, so that we can't spend much time on costumes. There were some old dresses of silk - heirlooms, no doubt, but very often costumes improvised out of odds and ends of nothing presented a much better appearance. I wore the green calico of Edie's, with a fichu, and a white cap; my hair high and powdered* with cornstarch- Carrie was my escort, with a black coat and gorgeous lace front, and hat three cornered with a long ostrich plume on it, and a short skirt. When we went over to the main building, Carrie caught sight of a real man, and was so embar- rassed that she turned and fled, and did not put in an appearance again during the evening-This morning we had a minister from Buffalo, Mr. Gilford- He had some very good thoughts, but was unfortunate in his use of figures and illustrations — they were so striking and sensational as to divert atten- tion from the thought. When he said that some people used the Holy Spirit as a "Divine dose of opium, or ecclesiastical chloroform", I was disgusted. He was also unfortunate in his wording, when he was speaking of the hero- ism of 'fishing for men", he said "you could catch a dozen fish in half an hour, but you may have to fish for several years before you catch a man." Such a wording as this. In addressing an audience of young women, proved too suggestive, and most of the girls, hitherto very well-behaved,not restrain a smile. Mamma was inquiring about Kate Dunham a while ago. Tell her that she seems to me to be pretty well. She says she is as well as she has been for the last two or three years. She went down to Newburgh Friday to stay over Sunday with Miss Gouldy, who was up here last week- You know Miss Gouldy visited Miss Sutliff in Cleveland. I did not get a letter from Mamma this week - I think something was the matter with the mails yesterday, for very few letters came. X am waiting impatiently for one of your new photographs. I hope they are good- With love to all the family from your loving daughter Adelaide. jCalflin, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

March 24, 1895

Text

Vassar College. March 24. 1895. Dear Mother, - I feel as if I had heard a good deal from home this week- it seemed so nice to get so many letters. Nobody else but my immediate family ever writes to me any more, so I don't get as many letters as I did last year. Still I hardly ever write to any one but my family, so I suppose I ought not to expect to hear from people. I can write but a short letter tonight, but I dare not omit that, for fear you will think something is the matter. Anna... Show moreVassar College. March 24. 1895. Dear Mother, - I feel as if I had heard a good deal from home this week- it seemed so nice to get so many letters. Nobody else but my immediate family ever writes to me any more, so I don't get as many letters as I did last year. Still I hardly ever write to any one but my family, so I suppose I ought not to expect to hear from people. I can write but a short letter tonight, but I dare not omit that, for fear you will think something is the matter. Anna Burchard's mother is here visiting and they came up to our room this eveningand stayed during the time that I had intended to devote to writing. Anna's mother is real nice- I should think Anna would have had her here sometime not so near to a vacation, for they will see each other again Friday, after parting tomorrow. Tonight Prof. Benjamin Wheeler, of Cornell University spoke to us, in the interests of Y.M.C.A. work in colleges- He lectured to us last been year on Philology. He has^appointed head of the American School at Athens and is going there in June. Thursday evening we were addressed by Mr. Sherwood Eddy, one of the Secretaries of the Student Volunteer Band. He was a very interesting and earnest speaker. Friday afternoon there was a match game in "battle-ball": That is a new game which is beingintroduced into this country. We have been taught how to play it in the gymnasium, and teams have been formed in all the classes- three or four in a class. There are eleven on a team- This contest was between a class team in '97 and one in '96: the latter won. Dr. Taylor and Mrs. Taylor were over in the gym. to see it. We girls are on another team, and I am on a team in "basket-ball" too- that is another game- When it is warm weather we are going to play these games outdoors- where courts will be fixed. They are just orga- nizing all the different athletic teams and clubs into an Athletic Associa- tion, which shall include all students interested in athletics & who play any of the games- The Association then will attend to the courts, etc. and arrange for a Field Day.Yesterday I spent all day working on my special topic in Greek, which I handed in as an Essay in English, and so had to have it done by six oclock yesterday. The English Department very kindly allows us to substitute other literary work which we may have to do, as Essays- I finally succeeded in finding Miss Leach at home Friday evening- I have tried a number of times to call on her, but she has always been engaged or out. She inquired about Miss Adams, and said that she was going to write to her- The ten oclock bell has struck, so I must stop and Jump into bed. Lovingly, Adelaide. (Claflin) Is Etta well yet? Give her my love. Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

October 31, 1893

Text

Vassar College. Oct. 31 (1893, My dear Mother, — I must not fail to wrtie to you on Sunday after this, for something is sue to happen on Monday so that I cant. L&st night we heard a lecture by Dr. Haweis, of London, on "Tennyson, the Poet of the Age." He is the same man who preached for us on Sunday, but I like him much better as a lecturer than as a preacher. He has so many peculiar mannerisms that are funny and interesting in a lecturer, but seem out of place during a sermon.... Show moreVassar College. Oct. 31 (1893, My dear Mother, — I must not fail to wrtie to you on Sunday after this, for something is sue to happen on Monday so that I cant. L&st night we heard a lecture by Dr. Haweis, of London, on "Tennyson, the Poet of the Age." He is the same man who preached for us on Sunday, but I like him much better as a lecturer than as a preacher. He has so many peculiar mannerisms that are funny and interesting in a lecturer, but seem out of place during a sermon. This man had had several interviews with Tennyson, and his lecture was very interesting. The teachers all gave us shorter lessons, on that account, which is a privilege that you don't get at home. We had such fun Saturday night. The Seniors gave us a party, and it was a fancy dress affair, that is, everyone was supposed to dress in costume, to represent some particular time or country. They did not invite us till Thursday evening, so of course we were not expected to get up elegant costumes. Ray and I had not the slightest idea what we would wear, until Saturday noon. In fact every one seemed to be rather dismayed at first, but the result was fine. Saturday morning Ray went over to see Carrie Hardin, and they concocted the idea of our going as a Syrian family. Carrie Hardin is the daughter of missionaries in Syria, who are well acquainted with Ray's Oct. 31, 1893 - 2 brother there. Carrie's mother is in this country now. She was up here last week and we met her, but she is going to start for Syria next week. Well, Carrie has some Syrian scarfs and jewelry, and Ray has some Syrian and Persian scarfs and sashes. So Ray was to be a man, I her bride, and Carrie my mother. Ray wore her gymnasium suit, with a short skirt, and a sash round her waist, another across the front and back, and another wound round her head for a turban. Her belt was adorned with paper knives and gilt pasteboard daggers. She blackened her eyebrows and made quite a fierce looking man. I had a loose cheesecloth dress which one of the Sophs lent me, and tied it in at the waist with a gaudy sash. I made a wreath of chry- santhemums (they were beautiful white ones which Mrs. Dwight had given us, and we still have them.) Over the wreath hung a tulle veil, but notso it would cover my face. Then my hair was streaming down my back, and I wore a whole lot of jewelry—necklaces and bracelets, among them a real Syrian necklace of Carrie's. Carrie herself did not have to take long to dress. Over her face she wore a blue figured veil, that she b rought from Syria. She could see through it plainly, but no one else could see her. Then she wrapped a sheet around her in a certain way, so as to cover everything except her face that was covered by the veil. So of course no one could tell who she was. There were ever so many good costumes there - several men. Oct. 31, 1893 - 3 long who wore coats and collars and neckties, witheskirts - There were Quakers and Puritans, ladies with old-fashioned dresses and powdered hair, babies, in white dresses and little bonnets, and curls, little Sailor boys, an old farmer and his wife, etc. etc. even policemen and mail carriers. During the evening they had pantomimes that were awfully funny. A great big white sheet was stretched across the end of the room, and a light behind it, so that when girls were just behind the curtain their shadows were cast on the sheet. One girl read "The Courtin'" and one or two other poems like that, while other girls acted them out in pantomime behind the sheet, bobbing about in the most exaggerated and ridiculous fashion. It was awfully funny. While one girl was reading, her hair caught fire in the candle beside her, and she just squeezed it in her hand, and went on reading, without saying a word. We got our gym. suits Saturday. They cost seven dollars, which I think is a good deal. They are full trousers and a blouse waist, with underclothes. The stuff is dark blue flannel, trimmed with black braid. They are pretty well made, I thin, - the buttons all sewed on tight, and buttonholes well made, and the braid is sewed on straight enough to suit Edie. I don't know when the work in the gym. will begin. It is pretty cold weather now. We had some snow on Monday, just a little bit, of course. There are such heavy frosts every morning. The leaves Oct. 31, 1893 - 4 have almost all dropped off the maple trees, but almost all the trees that I can see from my window are evergreens, so that it will not look so forlorn in winter. Today is Hallowe'en, when the Sophomores always play a joke upon the Freshmen. So we are on the lookout all day. We expect that they will do something while we are at chapel tonight. This morning when we got up, we found a small tack hammered into the out- our side of^door. We gently but firmly removed it. We found that all the Freshmen around us had small tacks in their doors, too. Mamma, X notice you always spell my name Adelaide instead of Adelaide - Your loving daughter Adelaide. (Adelaide Claflin, '97, Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

April 14, 1895

Text

Vassar College. April 14. 1895. My dear Bess, - You have been so good about writing to me that I must hurry up and answer with one letter. Your "diary" was very interesting to me. I like to know just what you are doing every day- Tell Ed, or Edie, whichever sent them, that the package came all right Friday afternoon, and I am very much obliged, to Edie for her part as well as to Ed for his- I am sure all those books must have all I will need, in them, if not I will get it somehow.... Show moreVassar College. April 14. 1895. My dear Bess, - You have been so good about writing to me that I must hurry up and answer with one letter. Your "diary" was very interesting to me. I like to know just what you are doing every day- Tell Ed, or Edie, whichever sent them, that the package came all right Friday afternoon, and I am very much obliged, to Edie for her part as well as to Ed for his- I am sure all those books must have all I will need, in them, if not I will get it somehow. We have already begun the Milton - have to read Books Iand II of Paradise Lost for tomorrow. Miss Nettleton came Wednesday - and she and her diamond ring Thursday were gazed at - also her fiance when he came Friday- Mrs. Kendrick gave a reception to the Faculty for them both Thursday afternoon but Prof. Bourne did not arrive till after it was over. The girls all think he Is homely, and therefore must be nice. The two went down to New York together Saturday morning to take lunch with Miss Nettleton's brother. I do not know whether they are coming back here or not. I hope they are, for I have not had a chance to say more than "How do you do" to Miss N. I supposed she was going to stay here a good deal longer. Carrie has had her younger sister up here visiting since Friday afternoon. She is going back to Rye Seminary tomorrow morning. This has been rather a cloudy Easter Day- It rained all the morning and was cloudy, though not raining, all the afternoon. Yesterday it poured all day- This morning Carrie and I went down to the Dutch Reformed Church, as there was no service here. The service there was very good- This evening the choir sang some Easter music for us, which was very pretty- Some of the girls have very good voices* Thursday evening I led the prayer-meeting with much more ease than I expected, for I was not scared at all- Ray came home late Thursday evening- She had a lovely time- picking arbutus on the mountains every day and taking beautiful walks- She brought back a number of photographs of the country around. She looks quite brown and freckled now. Yesterday Mrs. Benbow sent me an Easter card and painted celluloid around it. I can't say that I think it is pretty, but it was certainly very kind of her to think of me and to buy something to send me, so that I am very grateful for her kind wishes. One of the seniors, who lives in New York, felt so "dreadfully" to have to be here for Easter Sunday that she cried about it all day yesterday? and her family sent her an immense bunch of big violets to help make up! She goes home nearly every Saturday, too. I hope Etta is well by this time, poor child- Give my love to her. Love to all the family- Adelaide (Claflin) Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

September 22, 1895

Text

Vassar College. Sept. 22/95. My dear Mother,— Here it Is my first Saaday afternoon at college this year, aad of coarse my first thought Is to write to you. I am pretty well settled considering the short length of time I have been here. I thing less fewer girls came on Saturday this year for almost everybody was here when I got here. We were so surprised to find our room changed, for Mrs. Kendrick had told us there was almost aolikelihood of it, aad we had not the least expectation of it. So... Show moreVassar College. Sept. 22/95. My dear Mother,— Here it Is my first Saaday afternoon at college this year, aad of coarse my first thought Is to write to you. I am pretty well settled considering the short length of time I have been here. I thing less fewer girls came on Saturday this year for almost everybody was here when I got here. We were so surprised to find our room changed, for Mrs. Kendrick had told us there was almost aolikelihood of it, aad we had not the least expectation of it. So we each, as we arrived, proceeded directly to the room we had chosen- Ray opened the door and yelled "Where's Ad? " and X looked around, when I walked in, and aaw strange furniture, and yelled "Who's in this room", like the Big Bear. Some Freshmen have it. We are pleased about it now that we have gotten over being surprised,- and think It will be very well lor all concerned. When three g the same girls room together for three years they are not apt to make enough new friends, and that was oae of the chiefreasons why we tried last spring to get a single and a double, so that we would not be a Kathy and Minnie set. The rooms over here ^Strong Hall, are so very much pleasanter and more homelike, and the dining room here is lovely, and the things to eat are nicer partly because they are cooked In smaller quantity. My windows — two together they are — look toward the East - the same view X have had ever since X have been here- The morning sun shines in to make the day begin grayish drab, so that pictures are not so necessaryas ia the other building where many of the walla are glaring white. We had enough curtains between us so that I can hare a pair - and Carrie has a screen which they doaH need, and I am to use it to put In front of my washstand. The rugs here are always outlandish colors which swear with everything In a room - (I think they mast bay them up cheap on that account)- and my rug unfortunately Is no exception, so that I cannot expect anything to go well with It. You know my bureau ornaments are mostly yellow...lessons for tomorrow. X have no conflicts so that ray course will not be changed at all. One thing is nice. I have no recitation the first hour, so that I will not have to rush right after breakfast, and I think I will have time enough to get up from New York Monday morning so that X can epend Sunday there some time. It is so nice to see all the girls again, even nieer than I realized beforehand. I was particularly glad to see Mary Mac Coll. She Is Just as lovely as she can be. She has such an originalway of saying things - I was Messed at her account of her visit to Prof. Ely, whom she went to consult In regard to her course- Mary started to tell her name and situation. but just as soon ss Miss Ely knew she was out part of last year she said in her short decisive way, "Well, where have you been? " "Home," Mary replied. "What have you been doing? " Miss Ely asked, and Mary said, "Well I have been waiting for curvature of the spine, but I got tired of waiting so I came back to college." Miss Ely asked hor what she was doing while she was waiting, and Mary told her she was keeping house-Mary and Belle room together in a double over in the main building. Mary Ifi^Vc real well— I saw Katharine Dunham Saturday evening. She had been to town all afternoon and came home with her arms full of bundles. She has a cosy little room, and is making it very pretty. Miss Macurdy is not coming for a week or so because her mother is very sick, not expected to live. A number of girls have dropped out of our class, so that I think it will be a small class by the time we come to graduate. Dr. Taylor looks very well-I understand he is going to Europe just as soon as he gets things started here, in a week or so. Carrie Abbot was the first girl I saw when I came- She and Louise fngeraoll and Miss Hamburger (one of Miss Mittelberger's boarders, and a very nice girl apparently) are rooming together on the first floor in the main building. They were very glad not to be over at the Windsor- It is now time for the mail, so goodbye- This letter is very rambling- 1 just wrote as each thing occurred to me. With lots of love to all - and remember me to the neighbors and other friends— Lovingly Adelaide. ^Clsflin,Junior year 1895-6 Roomed in 42 Strong Hall - single Show less

Creator

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)

Date

September 27, 1896

Text

Vassar College. Sept. 27. 1896. My dear Mother,— Now while I am alone I think it would be well to begin my letter, for I very seldom am alone. Winifred has gone to spend Satur- day and Sunday with some friends of hers who live ten miles from here. Ray has gone for a little walk with Marion Schibsby. Did I tell you last week about our Freshman, DaisyNewborg? She has been a good deal of a care this week- We thought last Sunday she was about cured of her homesickness, but Monday, after being... Show moreVassar College. Sept. 27. 1896. My dear Mother,— Now while I am alone I think it would be well to begin my letter, for I very seldom am alone. Winifred has gone to spend Satur- day and Sunday with some friends of hers who live ten miles from here. Ray has gone for a little walk with Marion Schibsby. Did I tell you last week about our Freshman, DaisyNewborg? She has been a good deal of a care this week- We thought last Sunday she was about cured of her homesickness, but Monday, after being over at the Windsor for part of the day she came back to us and said she wanted to ask Mrs. Kendrick to let her go home to New York, to stay, and if Mrs. Kendrick would not give her permission she would go anyhow. I left her with Mrs. Kendrick, but pretty soon Mrs. K. sent for us end asked If we were willing to take her in again- Of course we were, and so she has been here off andon ever since. She has slept in our room all except two nights, but lately she has been spending most of the day in recitations or else at the Windsor, then she comes to us at regular intervals to be cheered up- We have decided now, however, that she has been coddled enough, and now we are going to be more severe with her. She is extremely grateful to us, and has twice bought us candy, and also a picture of St. Cecilia like the one Ed brought home last year. But wetell her now that she ought not to be with us so much, because if she doesn't hurry up and make friends with her own class at the start, she will find herself left out. We are plunged deep in lessons now, and from this time on we will always have more on hand than we can do. I wanted to change my course, you know, and they let me, so now I haveGreek, German, English, History and Ethics. The English is going to be the hardest for me; I took that Just because people are always talking about how important English is, and because Miss Wylle is such a very good teacher - but she expects so much from us that I shall always have a great deal of work on hand. The German is going to be fun, I think, though Winifred,who had it last year, says the course is a hard oae. For Ethics we have Dr. Taylor, aad in this we are very fortunate, for the last class had to have Prof. Freach, and Prexy is much more interesting than Prof. French. That is such a large class, all of '97 are in one division. We have now finished the furnishing of our rooms (that sounds as though the process -we-had beea quite elaborate.1). The trouble is we had to leave it in aa unfinished state from one Saturday to the next, for lack of time. But Ray aad X spent theafternoon yesterday on the bedrooms, which needed to be cleared up. Ed and Mr. Wiers came Tuesday afternoon aa X expected, but unfortunately it rained quite hard part of the time that they were here. X am so glad the weather did not treat papa in the same way. I showed them around most of the buildings and about as much of the grounds as I did papa. It waa just time for me to go to Greek class when they came. but Miss Leach said I used not come to class. Ed brought me my money all right, alsoBess's letter and the handkerchief, for all of which I am much obliged. Ray and I too were glad to see the home papers, and to read about Margaret Wright's wedding. This morning we listened to a sermon by Dr. Marvin R. Vincent, of Union Seminary. You know he gave us Bible lectures in our Freshman year. You know Ed doesn't care much for him, because he thinks he looks as ifhe had a good deal of wine. But this morning Dr. Vincent did not look so to me, aad I liked him very much indeed. We are to take the Freshmen to town to church next Sunday. We have been busy seeing to it that each oae is personally invited to go to church, and to come to the first prayer meeting, and to join the Christian Association. A great deal of system is used with theFreshmen. I hope Edie is taking a rest now that the rush of sewing for the summer is over. She has beea slaving over it so all summer. For her benefit I will say that the girls think the things she made are "very superior" (as Carrie says). A girl told me tonight that my redfern is "the nicest-looking dress I ever had", and as for that red cape which Edie labored over, Ray and Winifred are green with envy for it! I do hope she will sew something for herself when she begins again. Give my love to Mrs. Hendersonand Mrs. Sheldon and the Misses Wheeler, to t&y nothing of ell my own femily. I hope you will all hare as happy a year ae I am going to hare. "Being a Senior" makes a great deal more difference than I thought It would. The teachers and everybody are so very much nicer to us, just because we are Seniors, and they invite us more to come to see them. I went with Ray last night to see Dr. Grace Kimball. Tou know she is going to help Dr. Thelberg here. She has just come over from Turkey recently, fromher industrial relief work In Van. She Is a very fine woman, no one can look at her without admiring her, and she will be a great addition to the College. Florence Dowling has already established a reputation for being very fresh, and If she keeps It up, she will not be very much liked. I have spoken with her, but she was not at home when I called on her. I often see Libbie Poppleton in the halls, for she rooms in this building. Lovingly Adelaide. ^Claflin, Show less